tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39391392052970121902024-03-13T07:58:03.878-07:00life happensmy daily rantings--or perhaps raves of me and my families life.
Life is SO daily and whether you want it to or not----LIFE HAPPENSmom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.comBlogger510125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-58090010006488700232014-03-20T00:07:00.000-07:002014-03-20T00:07:09.284-07:00She's BACKThere is a movie that a young Jack Nicolas is in.<br />
I <strike>don't think</strike> <strong>I know</strong> I have never actually seen it,<br />
but there is a picture that sticks out in my mind where he is trying to push his way into a door and is saying<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm back".</span></strong><br />
Well that's me--sort of<br />
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<br />
maybe not with the crazed look in my eyes<br />
but I am hoping....<br />
that I am back :)<br />
<br />
I am embarrassed.<br />
Penitent.<br />
Truly sorry.<br />
but in my defense--where has the time gone?<br />
Has it really been 21/2 years since I last updated my blog?<br />
As I lower my head in shame I acknowledge that <br />
yes, <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> YES</span> it has been!<br />
{{{SIGH}}}<br />
It is not that I have not had any thoughts...<br />
or written anything...<br />
oh contraire.<br />
Lots of thoughts...<br />
and many papers have been written, <br />
just not much time to fiddle on the computer.<br />
<br />
It has been so long since I posted I am wondering if this will even work.<br />
Apparently while I was away the format has changed.<br />
I shall give it a college try--since that is what is taking up most of my time.<br />
I have so much explaining to do<br />
so many stories to tell...<br />
and realistically they won't be told.<br />
All I can promise is <span style="font-size: large;">to try</span> from this point forward.<br />
<br />
I miss this creative outlet.<br />
I miss documenting my life, <br />
my thoughts...<br />
even if they are a bit crazed at times.<br />
<br />
mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-72974879569865017172011-10-16T21:13:00.000-07:002011-10-16T21:13:34.744-07:00Oh the memories that family pictures creates<span style="font-size: large;">There is nothing like family pictures to build family ties....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">NOT!!!</span><br />
<a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2008/07/teeth-and-family-pictures-othewise.html">Why is it that my normally loving children have melt downs when it comes to family picture time?</a> <br />
Am I asking too much to have them clean up and put on a smile? <br />
<br />
Apparently the answer to that question is YES!<br />
I don't know how families take pictures each year--<br />
I don't think it would bode well for our family relationships if we did.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If it is not one child it is another..</span><br />
{{{SIGH}}}<br />
<br />
A few years back i tried to get family pictures taken on the beach in Rosirito, Mexico..<br />
ahhh...the best laid plans.<br />
I made the mistake and asked a child to move to a different spot in the picture<br />
at which point the said child told me that they were fine and did not need to move.<br />
Who needs composition anyway<br />
--or balance in a photo--<br />
not our family <br />
(yes this is all written tongue in cheek)<br />
at which point the said child went climbing off in a big huff<br />
(maybe that was the start of their love of climbing?)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All i want is some cute smiles...</span><br />
I know they have them in them.<br />
<br />
This will be the last picture that we will be able to have together for awhile so i wanted to take advantage of my friend Katie and her wonderful photography skills while we were hanging out in Rocky Point--I would like to believe that she took off from school and flew home just to take our picture, but i think the love she has for <em>her</em> family had more to do with her coming home than her love of taking my families picture...anyway i digress. So at some point I think she asked for a smile and that managed to set a child off--Ahh the joys of being a parent. It is not enough for them to just embarrass you--they need to do it in front of others to really make it count. So we went walking down the beach after she told us that we could take five to cool off--unfortunately the love fest escalated during those five minutes and i found myself watching my boys show ultimate love for each other as they rolled around and wrestled in the sand like three year olds--even fighting. My normally peace at any price husband felt left out of the fun and got involved showing them that he is still boss and can kick their butts--lol<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">fUnNY now...not so much then....</span><br />
<br />
I really liked when the child threw himself down in the sand and got irritated at the rocks and went to kick them, and then realized it would probably hurt him more than it would the rock....who said he doesn't learn from his mistakes. The rest of the photo shoot went off with a few snarls and a lot of attitude but i am hoping that in the midst of all of the family fun we managed to get a few good pictures. One word that managed to get us all to smile was the word Hemorrhoid--I guess you go with what works lol. Katie had Hubby and I take a picture together at which point she asked us to "kiss". That was a hoot. We were having a laugh fest and finally did manage to muster up a smooch worthy of our love--lol. Oh the things that the camera catches. <br />
<br />
Once again, family pictures did not disappoint on the memories that it created...it is a good thing that we really do love each other and manage to smile on the days we are not having our picture taken--because there are a lot more of those days than there are of the perfect outfit picture days.mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-21424914930055317872011-06-22T20:24:00.001-07:002011-06-22T20:26:28.713-07:00growing up before my eyesKids have a way of growing up and changing. It is just the way it is. Happens whether we want it to or not.<br />
<br />
2nd born son has been away at scout camp and now he is at wrestling camp. Wrestling camp is across town and they are actually rooming at the University. He has been gone for 5 days and will be gone for another 5 days. Seeing as how he forgot some stuff we ran over there today and hung out with him for a bit. In just the short time he has been gone it looked to me like he had grown. This kid is changing right before my eyes--it is only when i step back and reflect do i realize how much he is changing in such a short period of time.<br />
<br />
Recently at his promotion they had some pictures of the kids. One of the mothers commented on how young the group of boys looked--more specifically my son. She said "Oh, that must have been sixth grade"--only problem was my son was not at that school in sixth grade. That picture was actually seventh grade--less than two short years and my little boy changed into a teenager. He now weighs as much-maybe more than his brother who is four years older and is now taller than his dad.<br />
<br />
I have added some pictures over the past few years of him in his scout uniform so you can see the change as well<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2G8VdXzPeRWjQ2O6q_G3NoYHhM-3_zNHZEA4_VJhrqCgKXODB2czjFf8PQlyjJfg9k8qXeHrTApjUDzUcj8WVvGVbYo8Riu-5OxcsGki6HMagOZwP_XcHGd4bG5AGNtKDRfvq0TETg9U/s1600/random+143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2G8VdXzPeRWjQ2O6q_G3NoYHhM-3_zNHZEA4_VJhrqCgKXODB2czjFf8PQlyjJfg9k8qXeHrTApjUDzUcj8WVvGVbYo8Riu-5OxcsGki6HMagOZwP_XcHGd4bG5AGNtKDRfvq0TETg9U/s320/random+143.jpg" width="213px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 24, 2008--11 1/2</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHIskn2HS23HnmP6YCzQ0Yv-WSmYcdtl4VvqM7FOPmqn73_Iy0GgIaN50B0Aa2gfMBO5ePIzE7ShI9a6LByUhod43vx-qD7R-j3HBGwie91uwdMuhENOcstJirOtTXH7i_riV9eG9aSiM/s1600/scouts+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHIskn2HS23HnmP6YCzQ0Yv-WSmYcdtl4VvqM7FOPmqn73_Iy0GgIaN50B0Aa2gfMBO5ePIzE7ShI9a6LByUhod43vx-qD7R-j3HBGwie91uwdMuhENOcstJirOtTXH7i_riV9eG9aSiM/s320/scouts+009.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">September 18 2008--11 years 10 months</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXhwToFXftVlLDnKkMFnSQ0h1hfgZGAvFSmhgNzAbU9bIWcXy3Xtmo-9gAeibMVmDKv0Cqc3dMQ97zYdrYA3IjYr1I3EQr2bJ7rGQu28KYKQB1Pe9008sJSUvcQN5daKx9qCTdGh3GOP_/s1600/swim+09+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXhwToFXftVlLDnKkMFnSQ0h1hfgZGAvFSmhgNzAbU9bIWcXy3Xtmo-9gAeibMVmDKv0Cqc3dMQ97zYdrYA3IjYr1I3EQr2bJ7rGQu28KYKQB1Pe9008sJSUvcQN5daKx9qCTdGh3GOP_/s320/swim+09+002.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">August 20, 2009--12 years 9months</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw69jee7qUPiVXt2E7YvrW-CZRwjri6vgxr_n6adICxXdqlVsSYlEKBvDgEcWhMDYPbjqeBETwnJ_HdJMLIwYNMdQgV3x5LTDwPTIJAmg7b6ro3C2VsgeN0Ln5d78c4yLQAEgsY1YkKelD/s1600/sectionals+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw69jee7qUPiVXt2E7YvrW-CZRwjri6vgxr_n6adICxXdqlVsSYlEKBvDgEcWhMDYPbjqeBETwnJ_HdJMLIwYNMdQgV3x5LTDwPTIJAmg7b6ro3C2VsgeN0Ln5d78c4yLQAEgsY1YkKelD/s320/sectionals+003.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">13 years 4 months</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIgjHJ7AxHn8iKL7xWL0ZP0y8gnI7YiwRLrFzmXaMbQh0Eso6Kj31Q2MURFHnLEzyPhqZIPRJekCdMU1ddjVo-Py13LMChRpH5r8HhffdMYnDfCeEIMNC9MVghpB0cpE1OZ9L6LitsBmW/s1600/sectionals+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIgjHJ7AxHn8iKL7xWL0ZP0y8gnI7YiwRLrFzmXaMbQh0Eso6Kj31Q2MURFHnLEzyPhqZIPRJekCdMU1ddjVo-Py13LMChRpH5r8HhffdMYnDfCeEIMNC9MVghpB0cpE1OZ9L6LitsBmW/s320/sectionals+011.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">February 20, 2010</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLmuBJKLrSWfswNDRAN_lk8WgSTII8Ive56BacBwNiejKuukrLqHa-_QAPY5vGxOfAT1G4gVOGgB5khj3xYvPASKcFXJqmvoZhxfrq_x9vW3SaBXaFVeI7yPyjaR1YBSeF00A_cXLCleo/s1600/may+2011+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLmuBJKLrSWfswNDRAN_lk8WgSTII8Ive56BacBwNiejKuukrLqHa-_QAPY5vGxOfAT1G4gVOGgB5khj3xYvPASKcFXJqmvoZhxfrq_x9vW3SaBXaFVeI7yPyjaR1YBSeF00A_cXLCleo/s320/may+2011+032.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">May 19th 2011--14 1/2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the most recent documented scout picture of how he is changing--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">he finally got his LIFE rank officially--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">yes it is already sewn on his uniform--i refused to take it off from when his brother got his</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My/our goal if for him to get his EAGLE SCOUT before he outgrows his shirt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the rate he is growing it better happen sooner than later!</div>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-54991611307323096952011-06-06T22:18:00.026-07:002011-06-19T22:50:21.739-07:00'splodingIt was just a short while ago when i spoke about <br />
<a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2011/04/marshmallow-mush-public-service.html">things that should NOT be kept in the car </a>when it gets hot.<br />
One of the things on my list was SODA....<br />
'member why? <br />
Cause the cans will explode when it gets hot....<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">guess what???</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPDbn3jeJdEJbttnlcITBZB4J8vCdNs-QpM9Ym5oEW34je9a95WDg1rnucqg3E-6sYNUnwTyfFbADbp3W9kG5waxBpyFAV2uhexEJ59PygkI3rAGk8MwlwGFztXUzrJ41yw5guwgk6NGV/s1600/june+2011+099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPDbn3jeJdEJbttnlcITBZB4J8vCdNs-QpM9Ym5oEW34je9a95WDg1rnucqg3E-6sYNUnwTyfFbADbp3W9kG5waxBpyFAV2uhexEJ59PygkI3rAGk8MwlwGFztXUzrJ41yw5guwgk6NGV/s320/june+2011+099.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Somewhere between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon i managed to forget my own advise.<br />
Literally the tops popped.<br />
I brought in the remainder of the cans to wash them off and i put them in the sink--<br />
only to have one EXPLODE like a gun had gone off.<br />
Then another one started shooting off like a geyser--<br />
Nothing like sticky soda all over everything.<br />
One more reason i should quit this bad habit...<br />
but sometimes it just tastes so good....<br />
but only when it is really cold and over ice....<br />
<br />
which brings me to another story about soda....<br />
<br />
A few years back when i was in New Hampshire working I was craving a soda to kick start my morning.<br />
We had gone to breakfast at this little bar across the street from the hotel--it was yummy and i asked for a soda to go. I was expecting a soda in a cup with ice--not what i got. Instead i was handed a bottle of soda.<br />
They did not have to-go cups and ice was rather a foreign idea. Later that morning we had to go to the airport to pick up some boxes--off we went. On the way back we figured we would find a gas station/convenience store and pick up a soda there. I live in the land of pharmacy's and convenience stores on just about every corner so i didn't think it would be a problem. Let's just say it was short of looking for a needle in a haystack. We did finally find a gas station that had a sign outside totting its grand opening. We thought we had struck gold. We walked in and walked around looking for the fountain drink machine--only it was not to be found. What convenience store does NOT have a fountain drink machine? When i inquired about soda he told me he had bottles. When i asked about ICE he responded to me. "Mame', 9 months out of the year when we want ice, all we do is stick our hand out the window." Case in point--I guess it gets cold there, so no real need for ice in the drink. Such a foreign idea that it actually is cold other places--although i am liking the idea of some cooler weather right now. I know that summer had only begun and i am already getting tired of it. The only way i will get through it is with LOTS of ICE...and maybe some Ice Creammom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-11277951725519410072011-05-25T22:17:00.000-07:002011-06-22T22:20:22.302-07:00mom gives a mohawkI am sitting here try to take in the fact that today is the last day of school for most of my kiddo's.<br />
I seems like it was just a month or so ago that I the year started....<br />
My senior was done last week and has been hanging out the last few days waiting for graduation.<br />
<br />
My sophomore has been frantically finishing up her online class and studying for exams that she says are going to be easy. I ask her "why are you stressing over studying when they are going to be easy?" and her response is that "she would rather be prepared... just in case." Can't really argue with that logic.<br />
<br />
My soon to be high school er is counting the days till he is out of his school--but that does not keep him from continuing to cause havoc and bring home a note because he was being a tad bit too "chatty" in one of his classes. I also am counting the days till he is done with <em>that </em>school. It has been somewhat of a thorn in my side...so grateful that my husband took point on that one. I don't think, actually, I know that i could not have dealt well with the "rules" and pompous attitudes that exude from that school. <br />
<br />
<em>SOOOO....</em>with that statement being said I am allowing and even encouraging my soon to be freshman to rebel against the man just a bit. He has promotion tomorrow. Personally I find the whole idea of promotion a bit ludicrous. I had never heard of it until I moved here...but it seems to be a tried and true tradition that for whatever reason we can not give up. It has been scaled WAY back over the years. I guess things were getting really out of hand with Limos and fancy dresses and it being celebrated with the idea that this was indeed the end of the kids schooling instead of the start to the next step. Why we celebrate the kids finishing the 8th grade is beyond me--I expect it. That is part of the continuous step to HIGH School graduation--then college.<br />
<br />
Promotion has changed since my oldest child did it. When she promoted it was held in the multi purpose room/cafeteria. We had tickets. There were student speeches, and awards. It was a bit of a celebration. Then the next child came two years later. Same sort of event but scaled back. Then my third child. Talk about a change. Hers was held in the classroom. It was a joke, but for those looking for validation of promoting, I guess it fit. I spoke with a teacher/friend about it and she made the comment that the ENTIRE district was scaling way back the idea of promotion, with out completely eliminating it. Fine with me--I would even be in favor of elimination but alas my opinion was not asked...So here we are a promotion time again. Apparently my son's school did not get the SCALED back memo. NOOOOO.! We are having a promotion breakfast...<strong>catered</strong>....away from the school...at a church. We had to RSVP months ago. They are charging <strong>$18. per person</strong> for the luxury of going to promotion. Personally if I am going to pay $18. per person I would rather pick where and what i am eating. And really? $18. for breakfast foods? When we spoke with the principal about this we were told "the kids have worked really hard and they deserve to be recognized"<br />
WHATEVER....I can tell you that my daughter who's promotion that was held in the classroom worked just as hard, if not harder than this son. So I have to take off work and pay for the opportunity to watch my son promote. Personally I am going just to see their reaction. <br />
<br />
Reaction to what you ask? Remember the part of being a rebel and sticking it to the man. <em>Well.....</em>in all their ability to make my son conform, he has. Until NOW.!? He mentioned weeks ago that he thought it would be funny if he had a <strike>flat top</strike> Mohawk for promotion. I agreed. My husband was not in favor of it. He does not like to make waves. I on the other hand, like the bumpy ride on occasion. <br />
I caved. <br />
Or actually. <br />
I shaved, is more like it. <br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2YyolCWp60Lsg0c6PsgENZPhSksXdrVzAkIHq0qbS3uOSdrXZAkrFs2YGb4mXY-qhebXTbFdphJf98Cb1_kG15ViEGvduGTJO9BUIWQinTnq26apkoAiOaUR6N7t44TE4o5GL5c6KMFX/s1600/may+2011+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2YyolCWp60Lsg0c6PsgENZPhSksXdrVzAkIHq0qbS3uOSdrXZAkrFs2YGb4mXY-qhebXTbFdphJf98Cb1_kG15ViEGvduGTJO9BUIWQinTnq26apkoAiOaUR6N7t44TE4o5GL5c6KMFX/s320/may+2011+091.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><br />
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It will grow back.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj9c1mrJZyN_9vJg6l99-I0UVh71Ec5Rdosnxg7-J8WVObIZ2gKclQWSV1HeivIMUYj9H5Lk0VtAm7sqay6XZnk-HqzWZVj9kGZtoh-ujtH2JEX2SbkysfN4iS9MECEBM5qtOA4RW4cuE/s1600/may+2011+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj9c1mrJZyN_9vJg6l99-I0UVh71Ec5Rdosnxg7-J8WVObIZ2gKclQWSV1HeivIMUYj9H5Lk0VtAm7sqay6XZnk-HqzWZVj9kGZtoh-ujtH2JEX2SbkysfN4iS9MECEBM5qtOA4RW4cuE/s320/may+2011+101.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><br />
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He was told that he has to have a "normal" haircut to perform his priesthood duties. He agreed. It could always be worse--he could have dyed it some wild color or even bleached his hair like his brother did. I know hubbers is not happy with my encouragement of the rebelling against the man--and the fact that i cut the Mohawk right before seminary graduation--but it wasn't <em>his </em>seminary graduation. Plus if it was going to be done i wanted it to look good, and if his brother had done it, there was no telling how it would have turned out. I did have to do some touch up the next morning before his actual promotion....but that is a blog entry for another daymom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-39690927809450926642011-05-15T21:16:00.002-07:002011-05-15T21:25:25.875-07:00Senior picturesTime is a funny thing.<br />
There are moments that fly by and others that creep along.<br />
Has it really almost been a month since i posted last?<br />
March felt like it moved at a snails pace--<br />
April moved at light speed, <br />
and then here we are in the middle of May already?!<br />
School will be ending for my senior son this week--<br />
and then next week is graduation and the end of school for the rest of my piglets.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Summer here we come....</div><br />
This was my sweet boy just four years ago at 8th grade graduation<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijabqrdkCLvd9_GepEdboJq6qocr1khvpAbXWpxp-0XDsX43C0H03Pnreq8uaUW6UgB4ERBjv2BR-9CpYJBQjFNCHNYwkubhVpsZ6VSStuSdunkYP84SKn03mYCt6-Kwq-ip-4BJ6lV-ID/s1600/jake+promotion+07+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijabqrdkCLvd9_GepEdboJq6qocr1khvpAbXWpxp-0XDsX43C0H03Pnreq8uaUW6UgB4ERBjv2BR-9CpYJBQjFNCHNYwkubhVpsZ6VSStuSdunkYP84SKn03mYCt6-Kwq-ip-4BJ6lV-ID/s400/jake+promotion+07+009.jpg" width="400px" /></a><br />
<div></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwDqWcrIjmnMSNnr7B1qniaa3XVCx1w8I3gwqkJ7LNofOxdvEYzyxogseOdFWh23APsII-bJjtLic5wE2QfDHzrH3P2Hkflm7s3I3S9RCr8QovTAFsxLAL3elAeU_3WTCxH3M-xB3wYri/s1600/jake+promotion+07+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwDqWcrIjmnMSNnr7B1qniaa3XVCx1w8I3gwqkJ7LNofOxdvEYzyxogseOdFWh23APsII-bJjtLic5wE2QfDHzrH3P2Hkflm7s3I3S9RCr8QovTAFsxLAL3elAeU_3WTCxH3M-xB3wYri/s320/jake+promotion+07+014.jpg" width="320px" /></a><br />
<div></div><div style="text-align: center;">such the cute boy.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">He has grown (some).</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Put on some weight </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and gotten (some) facial hair,</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and his braces finally removed.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Time does not stand still--it keeps moving. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Life keeps changing.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here he is four years later....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQEpenvFpKA9EX6tryvPAtuvouduJqcoGgZOurHDV9jht9w8v-6mQajYTwvboL8MTDCfeZYABr6STen573zrlz4MTp_Ui11PghFDMzRa7NsFr5-aEAasDGNx8zir3x6C-gP7635bQJfXt/s1600/jake+senior+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQEpenvFpKA9EX6tryvPAtuvouduJqcoGgZOurHDV9jht9w8v-6mQajYTwvboL8MTDCfeZYABr6STen573zrlz4MTp_Ui11PghFDMzRa7NsFr5-aEAasDGNx8zir3x6C-gP7635bQJfXt/s320/jake+senior+11.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">red pants and all. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He is his own unique person</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiUYDcnikA5RsMsvJEwyq2-EY7r1TFyT7ptcqEFqW9gz7iT_0EVUr0gAARkEUts4qPML94AO666SKhUtT4T7VGQ10dgZ92d96qcK5k_EQCdts0lKd1nhJzguL2rYvK11uyQnO3Vq0N2IV/s1600/jake+senior+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiUYDcnikA5RsMsvJEwyq2-EY7r1TFyT7ptcqEFqW9gz7iT_0EVUr0gAARkEUts4qPML94AO666SKhUtT4T7VGQ10dgZ92d96qcK5k_EQCdts0lKd1nhJzguL2rYvK11uyQnO3Vq0N2IV/s320/jake+senior+3.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI90NLucUCd0gmru1WPghcjDs1cYdRLMEDs8IbXpw3iaRvrTni100RRmX58_8WQKJQr-FEoioc3pHcY8tfhWlE5uRQtqBkpYjMSHCAGbVnt5C5aAQp99KhgexUKfn6OCM0LtqCQiLvUO9/s1600/jake+senior+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicI90NLucUCd0gmru1WPghcjDs1cYdRLMEDs8IbXpw3iaRvrTni100RRmX58_8WQKJQr-FEoioc3pHcY8tfhWlE5uRQtqBkpYjMSHCAGbVnt5C5aAQp99KhgexUKfn6OCM0LtqCQiLvUO9/s320/jake+senior+9.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-y-PBuahfv91ptKRkNdGfZ2-AIX2gE8B1g1q8U3VKfXSyqvzMjLkfxyHDBokgZk56zd3bY3u3FlESMHw135r5X_9U__5u8-Y1e85AoolgQFNdBCpMWo1cFHK92I1QzKO3dcs18Q8_gQx/s1600/jake+senior+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-y-PBuahfv91ptKRkNdGfZ2-AIX2gE8B1g1q8U3VKfXSyqvzMjLkfxyHDBokgZk56zd3bY3u3FlESMHw135r5X_9U__5u8-Y1e85AoolgQFNdBCpMWo1cFHK92I1QzKO3dcs18Q8_gQx/s320/jake+senior+15.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This has to be one of my favorites--I love the reflection in the window</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunLYvO8997rACGiNig2854ckCR0PekQe_SNemu3OoCP2JjRwyBbFS6CNT2ijKHTL0jyZ9RWpzLsh-lpocKjfjiHm4VnPhCgUFDtKFNRsMjPkYmfUFNsPFB-w9oxbyrzFn26jRK7N9PteN/s1600/jake+senior+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunLYvO8997rACGiNig2854ckCR0PekQe_SNemu3OoCP2JjRwyBbFS6CNT2ijKHTL0jyZ9RWpzLsh-lpocKjfjiHm4VnPhCgUFDtKFNRsMjPkYmfUFNsPFB-w9oxbyrzFn26jRK7N9PteN/s320/jake+senior+19.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">These pictures were taken by his friend Katie. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is amazing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Katie is the one on the left with her sister)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv-Ohn5UOH1DevTzvuvku-G2KLEB01DZGyb4h5w3tzaL5oPpWNZqmDcB_1rxvtvh1nOiXhQMWZYflIM_kBVrC_65WWeTdiNKNoDQNz62ZNuyt9Xeybyk-iNnMZM1letTYig4zE4C4T6Qw/s1600/Project1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv-Ohn5UOH1DevTzvuvku-G2KLEB01DZGyb4h5w3tzaL5oPpWNZqmDcB_1rxvtvh1nOiXhQMWZYflIM_kBVrC_65WWeTdiNKNoDQNz62ZNuyt9Xeybyk-iNnMZM1letTYig4zE4C4T6Qw/s320/Project1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since i have known her since birth I can say that.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She has become quite the accomplished photographer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kfarnsworthphotography.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-05-15T14%3A13%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7">(check out her blog) </a></div><br />
Jake and Katie have a special relationship--<br />
When they were young pups on the playground they were swinging on this tire swing that we fondly refer to as the <strong><span style="font-size: large;">hurler</span></strong>. Let's just say that centrifugal force does not bode well for the person next to you when you loose your lunch---Katie has either blocked out that memory, or has chosen to forgive him and his childhood indiscretion. Not that he had much control over it. I am soooo grateful for the fact that she was able to draw the smile out of him--he is not the easiest in that regard. <br />
My number two child will graduate...in four more years and i will loose two more--leaving little man to hang out with his dad and I...ALONE. It is hard to believe we are at this point in our lives...fun and yet sad at the same time. These pictures are just proof that time marches on and waits for no man. <br />
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Changes will happen whether i want them to or not. I am excited and nervous to think about what the future will hold for my kidlins. I guess i just need to embrace these moments/memories and be thankful for the pictures that have frozen them in time. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We all have our time machines. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some take us back, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">they're called memories. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some take us forward, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">they're called dreams</span>."</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-13591495768026324372011-04-20T21:34:00.027-07:002011-05-15T23:37:27.149-07:00The anticipation of GOOD FridayThis Friday is Good Friday--<br />
I am ready to declare it GREAT Friday.<br />
I am ready for a break. <br />
I am ready for a day to play<br />
I only wish i didn't have to work tomorrow...<br />
I am sick and tired of it.<br />
The worst part of working in the morning is that it is going to start even earlier than usual.<br />
Some knuckle head at work decided to add another student to this route i am driving <br />
and i have to pick her up at 5:45 am<br />
--which means i need to be at work even earlier.....<br />
way to early if you ask me. <br />
The only redeeming grace is that the sun is coming up earlier and earlier, <br />
so getting up isn't quite as bad--but it still sucks.<br />
<br />
This has been a tough week around our house--<br />
more disappointments <br />
and then van issues on top of it.<br />
I think it is safe to say that both my hubby and i are emotionally exhausted. <br />
We are both ready to get away...<br />
even our little trip that we planned was almost derailed by a need for a <strike>expensive</strike> new transmission that was not going to be done in time for us to use our van, <br />
thank goodness for a grandma with a van, and her willingness to let us borrow it--<br />
that way we can still get away... <br />
Even if it will only be for a daymom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-21451977748428470662011-04-17T22:27:00.000-07:002011-04-17T22:27:40.095-07:00how much sleep is too much?Today i woke up and felt like I had been ran over by a Mac Truck.I have been battling a sore throat and runny nose the last few days, and in my mind was the debate,<br />
Allergies, Cold, Flu or just plain tired?--<br />
I am not sure if it was not a bit of all of them.<br />
After i decided that i was not up to going to church, <br />
i crawled back into bed and slept...<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and slept.... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">and slept! </span><br />
Does sleeping for 8 extra hours constitute a NAP or a new day?<br />
I slept the day away with only a few minutes of alertness to get something to drink and snack on and then i was back to bed. <br />
I did awake feeling better, but still not up to par.<br />
<br />
I remember as a young child <br />
my mom wanting me to take a nap.<br />
I remember fighting her over it, <br />
explaining to her that naps were for "babies", <br />
and i was not a baby and therefore did not need a nap.<br />
She then went on to tell me that daddy was taking a nap--<br />
what could i say to that? <br />
My young brain could not find any logic as to why my father would be taking a nap.Being an adult now i understand the attraction of finding a few hours rest in the middle of the day.<br />
<br />
With all the sleep i got today,<br />
The real question is if i will be able to sleep tonight/<br />
My sleep has been so messed up this past week--<br />
there were nights when i got plenty of asleep only to awake and feel so tired that i would come home from work in the morning and go back to sleep till i had to go back in the afternoon. Then there was the night where i couldn't sleep and stayed up till 3:30am and only go TWO hours sleep and went on to work the entire day and was FINE?! <br />
So i sit and wonder what tonight is going to bring me--<br />
one of restful sleep or....?mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-8022051344358424992011-04-14T21:37:00.022-07:002011-04-17T22:01:16.384-07:00public service announcement--marshmallow mushCan i just say<br />
sometimes it is the small and simple things <br />
that make me happy?!<br />
<br />
I found these little bit of yumminess at the dollar store the other day. <img <em="" a="" alt="" are="" bear="" bigger="" border="0" but="" fashion,="" for="" full="" goldilocks="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595685326586017234" in="" just="" marshmallow,="" marshmallow--="" miniature="" momma="" right="" size--="" smaller="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGgsZEujiASkjBjCrVS4rQzT488haD5AgdJ0gnNUK-ORXALkcSSiqzG6vUwlYCMS1WnryaiMpi6kj6j1zdwSfAeNB9V9qy5KPHHtZZzoLpNj_RL8ccc4PHRo7nrw6xJHUK0H5RsngPc-Q/s400/march+2011+117.jpg" than="" the="" they="" true="" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">In true Goldilocks fashion, </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">they are bigger than a miniature marshmallow, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but smaller than a full size-- </div><div style="text-align: center;">they are the momma bear marshmallow-- </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just right for this momma.</em></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595684802731262338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwwHlX24Rf-xT3JWxSNX3dZzCWpkQH1xy4PfmaOlJdkw52UKBgccmTNXtrHfzWojJ2PYdAXpgmXWQtnVFIAt0alDHzGlWG6rZWjkm7amszjqf-tIe6Y7tJhyLB5X1964q6Hq-NkCbgOEy/s400/march+2011+118.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> And to boot, they are tasty with different flavors-- not your boring bland white marshmallow. Not that i don't like plain marshmallows-- I just <strong>like them</strong> <em>dried</em> out. Some might even refer to them as stale?. Is it strange that i like dried out, plain white mallows? There is just something about the crunch that i find appealing. In fact i have been known to leave the bag open in hopes that they will dry out-- unfortunately they usually don't last that long... <br />
<div></div><div align="center"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
So what do Marshmallows and public service announcements have to do with this blog? This blog is about many things, but the last thing i want this to turn into is a blog about the weather. Currently we are riding the weather roller coaster-one day we are having unusually HOT weather and then one week later we have dropped over 40 degrees and it is raining, and dare i say <em>COLD</em>?. <br />
It is hard to know how to dress- </div></div><div align="center"><br />
<div></div></div><div align="center">the question is: bikini or thermals? </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 85%;">(EWWEEE--what a mental picture-- the bikini it <em>out</em> of the question).</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: small;">So, really the question is: </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: small;">--expose the pastey white</span> (marshmallow like) <span style="font-size: small;">legs </span></span></span></div><div align="center">or leave them covered?</div><div align="center"><br />
<div></div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-size: 100%;">There are things you take for granted when the weather is cool. Things people never have to think about unless you live in the toasty warm state of AZ.--Phoenix specifically. The things i am talking about are the things you can"t leave in the car even for a few hours. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Growing up</span> <span style="font-size: 85%;">(when life was much safer)</span> <span style="font-size: 100%;">my mom would run errands with us kids</span> <span style="font-size: 85%;">(not by our choice or hers).</span> <span style="font-size: 100%;">Often, if it was a quick errand</span> <span style="font-size: 85%;">(quick is a relative term when you are a kid)</span> <span style="font-size: 100%;">she would leave us <em><strong>in</strong></em> the car--usually with the windows up and when it finally would get warm </span><span style="font-size: 85%;">(again relative term when living in CO)</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> with the windows down. She didn't worry about us being taken</span> <span style="font-size: 85%;">(no one would want the whole brood--we were too onerie)</span> <span style="font-size: 100%;">The only thing that she worried about was whether or not we'd kill one another while she was gone. Now this is NOT something i recommend <em>these</em> days, but i can understand why it <em>was</em> so appealing--and lets face it, we lived on the wild side. We ran around the neighborhood</span> <span style="font-size: 85%;">(without cell phones)</span> <span style="font-size: 100%;">and my mom's only requirement was that we were home by dark. But this blog entry is not about my carefree <strong>safe</strong> childhood--it is about leaving things in the car. </span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />
<div></div></div><div align="left"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Here in AZ,in the summer, even a few minutes in the car can leave you breaking out in a full sweat (and that is with the AC on). Once years ago, I was taking a sleeping child into a friends house and left my keys sitting in the car. My older children shut the door and the automatic door lock--LOCKED. It wouldn't have been such a problem--you can always get a spare key</span> (only i was 20 minutes from my house<span style="font-size: 100%;">)--but for the fact that when they locked the door, they locked my baby in as well. There he sat, in his car seat--smiling through the window at me</span>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb55AxiY_u2gj1N3z9lgoMjNz92wq3eoyXsIgjFFrm2QBcn32gWZDDVM4Vp2n0k5slODoqoQC1Cqduydy3GGwvanz-IDZFVgiSHeXs2wMHEsjsEqVjC8Ut9OuM2GxqHoIQU3vGQJHY1TK/s1600/Leigh+Old+Pics+to+scan+018.jpg"> </a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595718577259531090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb55AxiY_u2gj1N3z9lgoMjNz92wq3eoyXsIgjFFrm2QBcn32gWZDDVM4Vp2n0k5slODoqoQC1Cqduydy3GGwvanz-IDZFVgiSHeXs2wMHEsjsEqVjC8Ut9OuM2GxqHoIQU3vGQJHY1TK/s400/Leigh+Old+Pics+to+scan+018.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(dang he was a cute little bugger)</div><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was high noon in the middle of the summer and I knew the temperature in the car was going to increase real quick. We tried breaking a window to no avail and quickly gave up and called the fire department. They did manage to get him out and declared him FINE (i am still left wondering about his humor and wonder if his brain didn't get a bit baked)--he was a tad red, but really no worse for the wear. On occasion I hear about parents leaving a kid in the car by mistake and I think of that day--things would have turned out much different if i hadn't realized he was in there. It makes me sad to think about that kind of loss--but i do understand how those accidents can happen. </span></span><br />
<div align="left"><br />
<div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once again today i am reminded just how warm it can get in the car. <br />
Let me preface this by saying that it hasn't really been HOT this week--<br />
the weather has been <br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">BE-UTE-I-FUL </span></div><div align="left"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">--lest i say almost PERFECT these last few days. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So nice in fact, that i was able to open the windows in my bus and read and nap <em>without</em> melting. So with all this perfect weather i never gave a second thought about it being TOO HOT in my car --that was until i went to grab something out of my backseat and saw this. <img alt="" border="0" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_A6f6mnMykMroV7P6n72rYygtrTBRS0VdmPf-2iocXncUE0y0ueosqaBKyAq5DPyLrREdvbpwez7hAJS79MszpvQ1FLvtBDwNW9_75kfUoLCC_Be_y5vyJURLtc7fnwW8VzSfCrA96S3/s1600/april+2011+002.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595684222757972034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwNFeafSOv04yygv7D-KRuU65YlCRYyNhmolUxs06J_ep2HB7KPzAe-6ZS9SRHCFBgp4YRg3QwDEOzIJBG7muXmng8lUMYbPKwdd1iDE-eFHeQcmxblJphtjTJVCgGGZwxNexsUmwGC_U/s400/april+2011+001.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595684230021437122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_A6f6mnMykMroV7P6n72rYygtrTBRS0VdmPf-2iocXncUE0y0ueosqaBKyAq5DPyLrREdvbpwez7hAJS79MszpvQ1FLvtBDwNW9_75kfUoLCC_Be_y5vyJURLtc7fnwW8VzSfCrA96S3/s400/april+2011+002.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Apparently while i thought the weather was perfect, </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">it was a just a tad warmer than i thought in my car-- </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">warm enough to melt the DNA of the marshmallows bunnies into each other</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncbZDMu5LEEkH_UKHplGsnXBV0Ww4reZYsFryBXvWu7WFfUPJ6Txev89zbw0mqERMMENfe9cKZCXfr2XwyNJktQYTQvmv5cy98dcgsGkx1dsNr_DldH-h0Xlbq1LDrPV7ov_PLzNL8Lr2/s1600/april+2011+003.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595684233957980530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncbZDMu5LEEkH_UKHplGsnXBV0Ww4reZYsFryBXvWu7WFfUPJ6Txev89zbw0mqERMMENfe9cKZCXfr2XwyNJktQYTQvmv5cy98dcgsGkx1dsNr_DldH-h0Xlbq1LDrPV7ov_PLzNL8Lr2/s400/april+2011+003.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> I had just bought these yesterday. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unfortunetly, I don't think there will be any recovering from this though. <br />
Just one big ooeey gooey mess.<br />
<br />
Other things i have learned over the years not to leave in the car when it gets hot-- </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Deodorant--yes it melts as well, but it does leave the car smelling, ohh so fresh and clean.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Candles--do i really need to explain? Again, good smell but often the wick goes MIA </div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Glue sticks--hot glue--glue glue--they ALL melt! It is NOT pretty, and leaves quite the MESS, because it is glue! And when glue cools off, it glues everything back together--even things you didn't want glued--like the bag it was in.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Magazines and Books--again back to that glue thing. This time it manages to UN-glue the bindings and you end up with lots of pages loose</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Crayons--creates a waxy mess--not so good on the carpet or upholstery</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Bottles of Milk--now it has been a long time since i have found one of these hidden gems in my car but i can still remember the curdled solid mass it was. Often that bottle would get tossed before i would dare to open it </div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Chapstick--ends up in the cap--or melted sideways</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Soda in cans--when it gets hot enough it will EXPLODE. Yes, i am afraid to say that it has happened...MORE than once over the years(you think i would have learned)</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div> Now i feel i can add to this list... </div><div></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">MARSHMALLOWS </span></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am sure there are more things that i have overlooked-- </div><div style="text-align: left;">they will have to be added to the list at a later date. </div><div style="text-align: left;">I know the heat is coming-- </div><div style="text-align: left;">my melted marshmallows <br />
only served as a reminder of that fact. <br />
In true Hill Street Blues fashion I will say: </div><div style="text-align: left;">"Let's be safe out there people" <br />
Time to make sure everything gets brought in from the car, lest we have any more "accidents"</li><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></div><div></div><div></div>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-65774560174040321842011-04-10T22:42:00.007-07:002011-04-10T23:58:06.783-07:00POINGO and Sunday with the BOYS<div align="center">Ah Sunday--a day of rest. Usually you can find me taking full advantage of the rest part... buried under the blankets in my bedroom enjoy an afternoon nap. I guess with the day off yesterday, that eliminated my need for a nap. Instead i spent the afternoon hanging out with my boys upstairs, while my girls were buried under blankets, taking naps in their room. Maybe that has something to do with fact that girls(for the most part)could care less about Sunday sports. I really didn't care who was playing or even won the US Open (at least i think that was the golf tournament) The men on the other hand acted as if they had a vested interest. Little man has had these Poingo books. He LOVES them. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594203318003881202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYg446pNIe2350jaUVzJjiwArJ6DiBWDHMLj4NzBCNEWiQjr8JzvSoMUyjF60fF2JYT4JuyyPcex4pHN56D1ZQI3mrNirs3ScK_RYlD0zZluP0zYuR5ejYVRcsD_rmetv8_T81Rl0JS_O/s400/march+2011+163.jpg" /></a> Months ago his little poingo stick quit working. If you know our little man he does not give up when he wants something-- needless to say that the inoperable poingo stick was a large source of consternation for US as well as him. He just could not understand WHY it was not working. I called the company and they sent us a new one--problem was it was the NEW one. As in: they redesigned the toy and the new one would not work on our old books. Well now that was no good. In fact the new one had a major flaw in my mind--it had these things that you had to plug into the stick in order to make it work. If that was how it had been when i originally gotten the books i would have NEVER bought it. Who needs parts to lose? Never mind the fact that each time you change books you have to change cards--which means we as the adults would be in charge of that. The old one was much easier and user friendly--he didn't have to plug anything in and the only thing he would lose would be the books or the stick itself. I called the company and to see if i could get the old version of the stick sent to me. NOPE! They no longer make it? Well i did proceed to tell them what i thought of their new design and explained as a parent the major flaw. Was there anywhere i could get one of these sticks??? Again i was told that they no longer manufacture them and have NONE in their warehouse--SIGH--what is a mom to do? Well as i was talking to the Poingo man i had googled Poingo on my computer, and low and behold there was a site that was selling this little golden stick. I NEVER buy anything off the computer--but this was dropped into my lap. Not only did they have the original poingo they also had some other books for CHEAP. I could not resist...I knew how happy it would make my little man . And HAPPY he is! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49gfj_diAs_1KvsO8QhFxNc0j8_dqbRBY_w-GdTrXOctopHmUVDZeg8nOJT2qPuHeFIUObn0bgjr3mCuMtILi_ZiGxwmN3TlMjBkr8Xmv9fMQGTth90QzUCE24vUKmjcaBbswYZJOZWE8/s1600/march+2011+165.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594203324157347378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49gfj_diAs_1KvsO8QhFxNc0j8_dqbRBY_w-GdTrXOctopHmUVDZeg8nOJT2qPuHeFIUObn0bgjr3mCuMtILi_ZiGxwmN3TlMjBkr8Xmv9fMQGTth90QzUCE24vUKmjcaBbswYZJOZWE8/s400/march+2011+165.jpg" /></a> This little boy has been playing with these for the last two day <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFkduT4Ht0yW8oVbeRE2alKBsFZdKcUgu9cGU6lCdaGBwLNmkZSTExreZCL1smfLCARNFjYjyHAf8Kdwe-rlAdydJWolgh5Q3dAJcDujUmkvQPAmyU6TjR-Tloq09y9yEr6tQhNsxJ2GC/s1600/march+2011+157.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594203315776647906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFkduT4Ht0yW8oVbeRE2alKBsFZdKcUgu9cGU6lCdaGBwLNmkZSTExreZCL1smfLCARNFjYjyHAf8Kdwe-rlAdydJWolgh5Q3dAJcDujUmkvQPAmyU6TjR-Tloq09y9yEr6tQhNsxJ2GC/s400/march+2011+157.jpg" /></a> It has kept him busy for most of the day. While i was taking pictures of little man and his books, i took the opportunity to aim my camera at the rest of the people in the room. Ever feel like everyone is against you? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwmrVpkj7SYqVax61blPDaFyZFuMLnbO3xZAlk4_G77nE1AKAL-NFAFXXTfvWl_Dujma1M500DlS8LaJd-z1mRBjaMBUiG2VF6wlx2UyNzlLiu0GQEYX7qEIsleqpYUUc09pC8nWdhDJM/s1600/march+2011+162.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594207265170789874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwmrVpkj7SYqVax61blPDaFyZFuMLnbO3xZAlk4_G77nE1AKAL-NFAFXXTfvWl_Dujma1M500DlS8LaJd-z1mRBjaMBUiG2VF6wlx2UyNzlLiu0GQEYX7qEIsleqpYUUc09pC8nWdhDJM/s400/march+2011+162.jpg" /></a> once they figured out that i had a camera in hand they quickly buried their faces <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpB1WuVUvwR-0R_o4d5bM-sRkkk6DpYBYSIa9Zb2EPhTDco3RgcFQti8MkjT9jySNcyjrvbCT0IlvoqjRDdrrMuuAbujPmDrsCoWMHOJZV9yugywAHfrqopyNT5c3EcnfFjDeSOjDgWaI/s1600/march+2011+161.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594207261204565698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpB1WuVUvwR-0R_o4d5bM-sRkkk6DpYBYSIa9Zb2EPhTDco3RgcFQti8MkjT9jySNcyjrvbCT0IlvoqjRDdrrMuuAbujPmDrsCoWMHOJZV9yugywAHfrqopyNT5c3EcnfFjDeSOjDgWaI/s400/march+2011+161.jpg" /></a> even the dog who had been resting her head on a pillow lifted it up and turned away <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jRYeQyZbvuHrSAj2VDV_lkKI5uBnxf6PQweN2gHam3eSAWQewpMxUYF9_0YzOT80LfeVlYxScbOgGIhK7WcxUfmyKiUJS8vWdCcOVXX8XkLVnSi6sqjXi_kGRTDP6-IhdvMJi35Fyugc/s1600/march+2011+160.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594207257759192818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jRYeQyZbvuHrSAj2VDV_lkKI5uBnxf6PQweN2gHam3eSAWQewpMxUYF9_0YzOT80LfeVlYxScbOgGIhK7WcxUfmyKiUJS8vWdCcOVXX8XkLVnSi6sqjXi_kGRTDP6-IhdvMJi35Fyugc/s400/march+2011+160.jpg" /></a> and then she gave me a yawn to show how bored she was with the whole process <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzsBJHlYyRMFlM6Jb_eOOIUoEBfT8CTASYwNNkZna_slFJpYbh88HI-DEvAytAchsZxVDddXf_F3FoiKb8V6RDUhPWZM25IqIqdyV4vbAveY5pdmQjN6A9V2uC-Frl-C5xm9r1_kxO31g/s1600/march+2011+164.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594213791609822610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzsBJHlYyRMFlM6Jb_eOOIUoEBfT8CTASYwNNkZna_slFJpYbh88HI-DEvAytAchsZxVDddXf_F3FoiKb8V6RDUhPWZM25IqIqdyV4vbAveY5pdmQjN6A9V2uC-Frl-C5xm9r1_kxO31g/s400/march+2011+164.jpg" /></a> even my husband got in on the obnoxious picture face--</div>
<br /><div align="center">the finger on the nose was just for the camera <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjasgCHKh3bM2opQzHGvI1AwadJyVXoFpqRz9j1GDp3PTIXIm2m8A4lJb5wft1GXgvzcTLoMmhMp6KsU6noHFJUZG0kIWQ2l10T59owA66ZtUhv5lHmgeQfzLEs_Rxg3G0xnfY4497omyY/s1600/march+2011+158.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594207253596450290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjasgCHKh3bM2opQzHGvI1AwadJyVXoFpqRz9j1GDp3PTIXIm2m8A4lJb5wft1GXgvzcTLoMmhMp6KsU6noHFJUZG0kIWQ2l10T59owA66ZtUhv5lHmgeQfzLEs_Rxg3G0xnfY4497omyY/s400/march+2011+158.jpg" /></a> here he is with the glazed over golf look <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81-YUGKalTfI8Xil38SYAu0DkzGAYWuXN1VRhe_OedVweQG6r6ExTDPvH0eWqdXAjlUYc_ZwdYbvhhBGBJXow1O6BeuxdDgd1z0hBSRQqYhm0zb3J3eSJQ8xBq2UfV2MUEJW-YLqVZYXi/s1600/march+2011+166.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594213795634340466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81-YUGKalTfI8Xil38SYAu0DkzGAYWuXN1VRhe_OedVweQG6r6ExTDPvH0eWqdXAjlUYc_ZwdYbvhhBGBJXow1O6BeuxdDgd1z0hBSRQqYhm0zb3J3eSJQ8xBq2UfV2MUEJW-YLqVZYXi/s400/march+2011+166.jpg" /></a> and here is the whole reason the camera was in the room to begin with. </div>
<br /><div align="center">My husband wanted a picture of the three boys hanging out together <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFEfdPuZvuPM2VQLvxFmltGvdF9WXHpTcBtcnRrVGSFSBfqcXoNFMx4895WjKkVkJMwDq2lnxdNYQIIm4CqKFl_sPOrquxnrrFiPVqaW2H6q76ma_QkX9s3D5AVbgE8wNgfcc79CQNU7E/s1600/march+2011+153.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594207247164563138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFEfdPuZvuPM2VQLvxFmltGvdF9WXHpTcBtcnRrVGSFSBfqcXoNFMx4895WjKkVkJMwDq2lnxdNYQIIm4CqKFl_sPOrquxnrrFiPVqaW2H6q76ma_QkX9s3D5AVbgE8wNgfcc79CQNU7E/s400/march+2011+153.jpg" /></a> I know it won't always be like this.</div>
<br /><div align="center">I wish i had gotten a picture of the two older boys sleeping on the couch together...</div>
<br /><div align="center">so sweet...reminded of me of when they were little--</div>
<br /><div align="center">somedays i wish we could go back...</div>
<br /><div align="center">like when they actually liked getting their picture taken</div>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-40051493362616616412011-04-09T09:27:00.008-07:002011-04-10T22:13:25.283-07:00Rain brings out the procrastination in meI have today OFF!! <br />I can't even begin to tell you how happy/content that is making me. <br />Knowing i could sleep in... <br />and wouldnt'cha ya know it, <br />I was awake at 7am.? <br />So much for REALLY sleeping in-- <br />but i did stay in bed... <br />and that my friends, <br />is <strong>thee</strong> BEST! <br /><br />I have been abandoned by the entire family. <br />I am home ALONE-- <br />peace, quiet and tranquility. <br />{{{AHHHH}}}<br /> <br />I should <em>sorta</em> feel guilty cuz i sent the older boys with little man to attend an Easter egg hunt at church. Sometimes i LOVE having extra drivers and being able to pawn off unwanted tasks. I am <em>trying</em> to feel guilty-- but it is not working. <br /><br />Instead i am watching the rain fall outside, <br />listening to it with my window open, <br />and I am feeling grateful for the fact <br />that i am curled up under a blanket. <br />Warm and toasty... (<br />was it only a week ago we were having a record high of 100 degrees, <br />and now we are having a record low for a high?) <br /><br />I am telling myself that the boys are bonding-- <br />and they are probably sharing the candy in the eggs--<br />we all know i don't need the candy--it is better that they are there to share.<br />Afterall we know that boys never outgrow easter egg hunts<a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-at-cabin.html">as documented here</a>. <br /><br />I should get up and be motivated, <br />but i recently read this article on Procrastination... <br />I didn't <em>actually</em> finish the article, <br />but the part i read said it can't be helped, <br />that we are wired that way. <br /><br />So many things to do today. <br />I guess i need/should make a list of priorities. <br /><strong>Where to start?</strong> <br />Maybe i will just sit here a few more minutes <br />and debate <em>that</em> eternal question. <br />Just me and the dog hanging out..... <br /><br />So the hubby and I and the son we are preparing to send on a mission, are each working on reading the Book of Mormon by June 1st. We thought we would have each family member do it, but we have some less than willing participants --AHHH--free agency. Don't ya just love it sometimes? I realize that June is just around the corner-- why is it so hard to motivate myself to sit down and read-- I mean, I just finished a trilogy of books in less than three weeks?. My sweet hubby found a website that breaks down the reading into bite size pieces. You put in the date you want to finish and it sends you an e-mail each day with your reading task-- <br />I think i can do it. <br />No. <br />I take it back-- <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I WILL do it</span>. <br />I just need to quit procrasinating... <br /><br />Any task in life is easier <br />if we approach it with the one at a time attitude. ... <br />To cite a whimsical saying; <br />'If you chase two rabbits, both of them will escape.' <br />No one is adequate to do <strong>everything </strong>all at once. <br />We have to select what is important,<br />what is possible,<br />and begin where we are,<br />with what we have.<br />And if we begin <br />and if we keep going the weight,<br />the worry,<br />the doubt,<br />the depression will begin to lift ....<br /><br />We can't do everything always,<br />but we can do something now,<br />and doing something<br />will help to lift the weight and lessen the worry,<br /><br />'The beginning,' said Plato, 'is the most important part.'<br /> <span style="font-size:85%;">--Richard L. Evans, Thoughts for One Hundred Days </span><br />i am off to catch one rabbit at a time-- <br />even if i bite off more than i can chew-- <br />if i concentrate on chewing it one bite at a time, <br />eventually i will be able to swallow-- <br /><span style="font-size:180%;">here is to <strong>not </strong>choking </span><span style="font-size:180%;">on my list! </span>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-85345365800587659762011-04-08T12:04:00.001-07:002011-04-11T00:30:28.623-07:00Mostly deadI wrote earlier about my poor plants. <br />It didn't seem like it was an overly cold winter but all it takes is a few chilly days in a row to play havoc on the landscape plants. My plants have always seemed to make it through, but this year was far worse than ever before. My hubby cut everything back once it started to warm up. I was hoping that they would perk up....but up to now I hadn't seen much to give me hope. I walked over the other day to get a closer look. I figured if they were really dead i would rip them out of the ground. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsHeJuN3kr_Z6RjtqrrewCmzGufpJtlWWe9sw3dnTH0H0lCoYmRTNkHhwfvAa4wwHSRjVDdnp8FOK_H3ju52mIUap1KfYhOEJYLd-UVcSsdd2dUXAnuwZa-SpXQap3tjOGtczk4HLvLUC/s1600/march+2011+138.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594221574593952850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsHeJuN3kr_Z6RjtqrrewCmzGufpJtlWWe9sw3dnTH0H0lCoYmRTNkHhwfvAa4wwHSRjVDdnp8FOK_H3ju52mIUap1KfYhOEJYLd-UVcSsdd2dUXAnuwZa-SpXQap3tjOGtczk4HLvLUC/s400/march+2011+138.jpg" /></a> Upon closer inspection i saw this <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4Z5TefU9zq447XvnwCUN-OW_i-dJKBBa0JsWt_joSb__Mj0w9gApD5UZwYkGMRrETyJdwd6nQNRc2DtP_hmAaKVjnkf3wZt4YIE1HI9VGsHZchyphenhyphenuNZXZ7nf4nJjh9n63rLsTiEkhWDVu/s1600/march+2011+140.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594220256622653250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4Z5TefU9zq447XvnwCUN-OW_i-dJKBBa0JsWt_joSb__Mj0w9gApD5UZwYkGMRrETyJdwd6nQNRc2DtP_hmAaKVjnkf3wZt4YIE1HI9VGsHZchyphenhyphenuNZXZ7nf4nJjh9n63rLsTiEkhWDVu/s400/march+2011+140.jpg" /></a> <br />close to the ground there were some signs of new life. <br />I was thrilled that i was not going to have to take them out. <br />There was hope.... <br />As i was thinking about them being "mostly dead" it reminded me of a scene in the "Princess Bride" (one of my all time favorite movies) <br /><br />Miracle Max: [Lifts and drops the arm of the dead Westley] I've seen worse. <br /><br />Inigo Montoya: He's dead. He can't talk. <br /><br />Miracle Max: Whoo-hoo-hoo, look who knows so much. <br />It just so happens that your friend here is only <em>MOSTLY</em> dead. <br />There's a <em>big difference between mostly dead and all dead. </em><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Mostly dead is <em>slightly alive</em></span>. <br />With <em>all dead</em>, well, <br />with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do. <br /><br />I love that--sometimes we are so ready to rush to a conclusion about things that we fail to give it the proper time needed for the miracle to happen. <br />Not just my plants but in my life as well.<br />We want the instant results. <br />We lack the patience needed to allow the miracles to take place.<br /><br />Miracle Max went on to say this: <br />You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles.<br /><br />I couldn't agree more. <br />Once again the earth is teaching me a lesson<br />"Be patient and things will slowly return to normal"mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-24561683007269136082011-04-03T19:33:00.005-07:002011-04-03T19:50:51.610-07:00Recieving inspiration in my jammiesCan I just say I LOVED today? <br />I sorta feel like i played hookie-- <br />only without any guilt attached to it. <br />Twice a year we get a free pass to stay home and watch church on TV. I think it should be more of a quarterly thing-- but twice a year is good. <br />Conference is a blessing-- <br />the talks were inspired <br />and i can hardly wait to read them again-- <br />there were things said that i know i need to apply to my life. <br />Things i need to work on-- <br />things i needed to hear and be reminded of. <br />It was awesome.! <br /><br />The best part of staying home and watching Conference/church on TV is that I spent the ENTIRE day in my jammies-- <br />Everyone was home today--ALL DAY.<br />I had all the kids surrounding me. <br />I loved watching them play with Lego's, <br />each other and just hanging out. <br />I loved taking a time out-- not having to run different ways. <br />Sorta felt like Christmas-- <br />My oldest son and i talked about when the next time conference came in October he would more than likely be in the mission field--no staying in pajama's for him then. Just reminds me of how these moments are fleeting--mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-54883605161424908922011-04-01T21:33:00.013-07:002011-04-03T14:34:30.582-07:00Not an April Fools joke<div align="center">Today the most cruel of April Fools joke was played on us in Phoenix.The weather man had been telling us for days to expect a unusual high of <span style="font-size:130%;">98 degrees.</span> We thought for sure it had to be an April Fools joke... Unfortunately it was NOT.! In a cruel weather dichotomy, we were blessed with <span style="font-size:180%;">100 degrees</span> of HEAT, while those in the northeast were being blessed with... another snowstorm. </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJQgVzhNwRjCA0AAfHXj-M0_Kj6Zy__RzjFCum3fR6bcBzhq0SsuuwD3WGYsgOBUFBLTNRZGSSybMcvIRHHMJf1sL31CmSK5GdGfgErIEuD9_T8K6WbD-OhDSgXJW-9kA0cB74F7t4SEW/s1600/december+2010+404.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591471374152451330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJQgVzhNwRjCA0AAfHXj-M0_Kj6Zy__RzjFCum3fR6bcBzhq0SsuuwD3WGYsgOBUFBLTNRZGSSybMcvIRHHMJf1sL31CmSK5GdGfgErIEuD9_T8K6WbD-OhDSgXJW-9kA0cB74F7t4SEW/s400/december+2010+404.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">(this picture is actually was taken outside of Flagstaff-- but it just goes to show that if i want snow, i only need to drive a few hours) </span>Although I am grateful for the fact that I do not have to shovel sunshine, I felt that 100 degrees on April 1st, was not called for. Sometimes (well more often than naught) I forget that while we live in a warm sunshiny state, other places are still freezing. Today, while i am pulling out my shorts to expose my winter-y, pasty white legs, <br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9um4iKLOs5E7N4beCtBCU0bbgitIjNpEodtpYput9bMw3UAl_-KN3Wt-YVmgjOzoOQ9yAQKzG_9errMN4MpPCIWjRBAoWWjHHZiZN1G8tK8BRFOj8FuRzYUEI8OAKtIqYFPPW7klYxZq/s1600/joes+farm+grill+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591456941861786210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9um4iKLOs5E7N4beCtBCU0bbgitIjNpEodtpYput9bMw3UAl_-KN3Wt-YVmgjOzoOQ9yAQKzG_9errMN4MpPCIWjRBAoWWjHHZiZN1G8tK8BRFOj8FuRzYUEI8OAKtIqYFPPW7klYxZq/s400/joes+farm+grill+005.JPG" /></a> those living in the cold are wrapping up as to not expose any skin-- <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEgZwqxekRR5xmmm9MoqrHNcqE4JPpGe-bQxnzyI8kH4Ius5ZHN5AxgOrHujZWR5mUL467nOKOGPSJnGSRaQ3VAWsOehgJTGJ2QUSNc3iMnU7zPfPAfZpeEu3u6Gn_8BxslcbkjhdTMJt/s1600/december+2010+417.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591465278701056802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEgZwqxekRR5xmmm9MoqrHNcqE4JPpGe-bQxnzyI8kH4Ius5ZHN5AxgOrHujZWR5mUL467nOKOGPSJnGSRaQ3VAWsOehgJTGJ2QUSNc3iMnU7zPfPAfZpeEu3u6Gn_8BxslcbkjhdTMJt/s400/december+2010+417.jpg" /></a> lest it be frozen off. <br /><p align="center">I can hardly wrap my mind around the fact that while we are having record highs, others are out shoveling snow. I feel guilty <em>wishing</em> that our cooler weather would return--I am not ready for the heat to take over my life. I have enjoyed dressing in layers. I have liked wearing jeans, and <a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2010/11/november-2010.html">socks and tennis shoes</a>. I hate these weird weather days--cool when you get up, and you dress for that only to be TOO warm just a few hours later. Don't get me wrong i love being WARM--just not HOT. I love the sunshine, but not the: burn your skin off, and melt your remains HEAT, that comes with the sun in the summer. I have enjoyed our cooler weather-- WHY MUST IT END??? <br /><div align="center">I know like everything else this too shall end. Just like my life, everything goes in cycles, and if we had perfect weather all the time, what would we have to complain about? I know it will get cooler again before the blaring un-ending summer heat hits us. I guess I am just not ready to be reminded of what is coming around the corner.{{{SIGH}}} Just one more thing i have no control over in my life--but that's OK. I don't want to be a weather god, or mother nature--far too much responsibility--just can not please everyone all the time. Sometimes you can't help but have your <a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2009/05/rain-or-shine-its-graduation-time.html">parade rained on</a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvvVlb-DDCUT1iSLhGG6BexocJIr98RLF4pqXxtGjJrZsLf6-xweTQ5GuMt9-swWi967s0zaKq6sdYYaZl82lURKgyTCYY_3x40CNUMb-Y-NGIooJDXidIPJU-deA0-_lOLy7a0kgFRrE/s1600/alex+006.jpg"></div></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591082392724500098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvvVlb-DDCUT1iSLhGG6BexocJIr98RLF4pqXxtGjJrZsLf6-xweTQ5GuMt9-swWi967s0zaKq6sdYYaZl82lURKgyTCYY_3x40CNUMb-Y-NGIooJDXidIPJU-deA0-_lOLy7a0kgFRrE/s400/alex+006.jpg" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvvVlb-DDCUT1iSLhGG6BexocJIr98RLF4pqXxtGjJrZsLf6-xweTQ5GuMt9-swWi967s0zaKq6sdYYaZl82lURKgyTCYY_3x40CNUMb-Y-NGIooJDXidIPJU-deA0-_lOLy7a0kgFRrE/s1600/alex+006.jpg"><br /><p align="center"></a>Sometimes weather <a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2008/07/waterlogged-shoes.html">makes for an interesting afternoon</a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Azl_rvG2YuKiHOEUo3XJtR5evRrAJC4NcaoloNuKeO0XlVQQ75WmaUm0PVuRzcNXD0XePV9XV4Xgr8NP36tSePf61_-XubR-xXsL7lBROUZiPnQeWcrtdeCq8klm8vx-KRPrN0CmoDSR/s1600/sunday+rain+065.jpg"></p></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591436825598364610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Azl_rvG2YuKiHOEUo3XJtR5evRrAJC4NcaoloNuKeO0XlVQQ75WmaUm0PVuRzcNXD0XePV9XV4Xgr8NP36tSePf61_-XubR-xXsL7lBROUZiPnQeWcrtdeCq8klm8vx-KRPrN0CmoDSR/s400/sunday+rain+065.jpg" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Azl_rvG2YuKiHOEUo3XJtR5evRrAJC4NcaoloNuKeO0XlVQQ75WmaUm0PVuRzcNXD0XePV9XV4Xgr8NP36tSePf61_-XubR-xXsL7lBROUZiPnQeWcrtdeCq8klm8vx-KRPrN0CmoDSR/s1600/sunday+rain+065.jpg"><br /><p align="center"></a>and clouds make for beautiful sunsets <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkmhj5DW-IgqdlGJ_83d7_HQPJ8PLJO4rEbCWtuT9iP8jmi6lRhiRDDCBISx2wwachKUMcmggHxXiQ991R-dl1l3aOLq_Onncj-6f6yHXdsB9_YHsENcJPLw43pSuZLlTaBJMXsO0z_w5/s1600/tempe+at+sunset+003.jpg"></p></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591090553618724834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkmhj5DW-IgqdlGJ_83d7_HQPJ8PLJO4rEbCWtuT9iP8jmi6lRhiRDDCBISx2wwachKUMcmggHxXiQ991R-dl1l3aOLq_Onncj-6f6yHXdsB9_YHsENcJPLw43pSuZLlTaBJMXsO0z_w5/s400/tempe+at+sunset+003.jpg" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkmhj5DW-IgqdlGJ_83d7_HQPJ8PLJO4rEbCWtuT9iP8jmi6lRhiRDDCBISx2wwachKUMcmggHxXiQ991R-dl1l3aOLq_Onncj-6f6yHXdsB9_YHsENcJPLw43pSuZLlTaBJMXsO0z_w5/s1600/tempe+at+sunset+003.jpg"><br /><p align="center"></a>and who doesn't want to be reminded that Rainbows do come out. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlAMc7iDJf1HGeeznTUkjw2N1OHM0VEtrp3I8cAkKveikQzrcEkcIFUpe-BFv8VYe9NPgZGNTG1sRD_TUBbLiQeEwSvgWP4sfT1BNvdoS4M1ulj4nHe43DNMWjCc3pe_7nKEF77M3eQSf/s1600/Sedona_0039.jpg"></p></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591412932044064754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlAMc7iDJf1HGeeznTUkjw2N1OHM0VEtrp3I8cAkKveikQzrcEkcIFUpe-BFv8VYe9NPgZGNTG1sRD_TUBbLiQeEwSvgWP4sfT1BNvdoS4M1ulj4nHe43DNMWjCc3pe_7nKEF77M3eQSf/s400/Sedona_0039.jpg" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlAMc7iDJf1HGeeznTUkjw2N1OHM0VEtrp3I8cAkKveikQzrcEkcIFUpe-BFv8VYe9NPgZGNTG1sRD_TUBbLiQeEwSvgWP4sfT1BNvdoS4M1ulj4nHe43DNMWjCc3pe_7nKEF77M3eQSf/s1600/Sedona_0039.jpg"><br /><p align="center"></a>To remind us of the HOPE that the lord gives us.</p><br /><p align="center">So heat do your best to beat me up and wear me out. I know it will only be a matter of months before it will be cool again and in the meantime while i wait for those wonderful days to come... I will be working on my farmers tan.</p>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-38977288145556581762011-03-30T12:44:00.012-07:002011-04-03T15:38:33.851-07:00Frustrations and a change of heartCan I say, "it" is doing IT again. <br />Just trying to post this entry is making me CRAZY! <br />Talk about my own frustrations-- <br />COMPUTERS!!! <br /><span style="font-size:180%;">{{{{AHHHHHH}}}} </span><br /><br />I had written the post about the "FUN" we have been having. I posted it-- <br />only to have the format get whacked out-- <br />MANY TIMES!!! <br />I finally gave up and threw it back into my drafts until i had time to get it worked out. My hubby thought i had taken it off my blog, because i felt bad about writing about him --NAHHH-- just the computer was in non-compliance. It has taken me two days to finally get it up so it looks right. I gave up trying to center it... or highlight, or emphasize any more words. For some reason it seemed to wig out any time i tried to do that. <br /><br />I am leaving it alone. <br />It is what it is... <br />(having the same problem with this post,<br />anyone else having this problem?) <br /><br />A few months ago I had interviewed for a promotion at my work (<a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-day.html">As noted here)</a>, <span style="font-size:130%;">i didn't get it</span>. <br />Guess what? <br />I am really <span style="font-size:130%;">OK</span> with the fact it did not work out. I like the guy (Mr.X) quite well, who did get the job. Even though he is still learning about different aspects of the job he is doing pretty well. He is teachable and actually listens to those who know what is going on (ie: ME--LOL) It has been fun helping him out. He has strengths where i had weaknesses. He has changed the whole feeling in the office. It is actually a fun place to go to work now. <br /><br />One day I was talking with Mr.X about his getting the job, and having a husband who has and IS currently going through unemployment, I have an understanding and empathy for what Mr.X went through prior to getting the job. He too had dealt with unemployment. That day I came home and told my husband that i was glad Mr.X got the job over me. <span style="font-size:130%;">He needed it more.!</span> <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I really do believe things happen for a reason--</span> often we can not see the big picture, <br />and it takes time and the ability to reflect back <br />to see how things play out. <br />Things worked out for the best-- <br />I am still figuring out what it means for me? <br />...but i know in <strong>not</strong> getting the job, <br />it will only leave me more opportunities in the end. <br />We may not always like how things turn out-- <br />we may not understand it at the time,<br /> but in the end we need to remember who is really in charge of our life... <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">HE has a plan for us</span>-- <br />which we may not know about. <br />We have to put our trust and faith in his hands. <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">HE knows what is best</span>. <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">HE has <em>his </em>timing</span>. <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">HE is refining us</span>, <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">molding us</span>, <br />and if we let him, <br />HE can and will make us into more than we could ever hope to be. <br />It is hard being patient and waiting on <em>HIS </em>timing. <br />I have to remind myself of these truths. <br />I need to work on my faith. <br />I need to work on my patience. <br />I need to remember that things happen for a reason, <br />and as much as I would like to think <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I am in control of my life</span>-- <br /><span style="font-size:180%;">I'm <strong>NOT.</strong></span> <br />What can I say? <br /><span style="font-size:180%;">I am just a work in progress.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">“All of us are guinea pigs </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">in the laboratory of God. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Humanity is just a work in progress.” </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Tennessee Williams</span>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-60451946792487088262011-03-28T17:51:00.022-07:002011-03-31T19:52:18.416-07:00When will this FUN end?Dont'cha just love ADVERSITY? <br />(said with a <em>slight</em> note of sarcasm, well maybe not slight!?) <br />Or how about those trials/tribulations <br />that you know will eventually end, <br />but you keep waiting for that day to come.... <br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">LIFE... </span><br />{{{{SIGH}}}} <br />in all it wonder, <br />frustration, <br />happiness, <br />and pain <br />can be exhausting some days. <br /><br />I realize that it takes the bitter, <br />to appreciate the sweet, <br />and without the bad, <br />we could not truly enjoy the good-- <br />but i think i have had my fair share of the bitter lately-- <br />not that things couldn't <em>always</em> be worse-- <br />but they certainly could be better!? <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We are ready for better.</span> <br /><br />We are getting really good at the <br />"hurry up and wait game"... <br />only to be <strong>disappointed</strong>... <br /><span style="font-size:130%;">AGAIN.</span> <br />Nothing like, <br />"always the bridesmaid... <br />never the bride"-- <br />or "second place... <br />also known as first loser", <br />or "close but no cigar". <br />If it is a cliche about ALMOST getting what you want,<br />it fits our situation.! <br /><br />Poor hubby got another one of <em>those</em> calls today... <br />He <em>was</em> the guy. (or he was <em>supposed</em> to be) <br />His/our waiting was to be over... <br />but it didn't exactly work out that way-- <br />Feeling frustrated, <br />mad <br />and disappointed <br />he went to drown his sorrows by watching Jeopardy-- <br />and low and behold there was some clown on the TV instead--(some people refer to him as the president) <br />My poor hubby. <br />He had all he could take-- <br />if you can't watch Jeopardy and have no desire to listen to the president ramble on, the next best thing he could do was to buy two tacos from Jack in the Box and drown his sorrows in some fake meat, cheese and a healthy(?) dose of grease, which he did, and then promptly came home and ate them while watching Leave it to Beaver. <br /><br />It is good to be reminded of <br />calmer, <br />simpler, <br />happier times.... <br />All of which we <em>hope</em> will return to our home-- <br />sooner than later, we hope-- <br />ENOUGH OF THIS FUN ALREADY! <br /><br />This scripture has brought me some peace... <br />especially this time of year. <br /><br />These things I have spoken unto you, <br />that in me ye might have PEACE. <br />In the world ye shall have TRIBULATION: <br />but be of GOOD CHEER; <br />I have overcome the world. <br /><br />St John 16:33 <br /><br />My prayer is that we can all find peace in our tribulations <br />and that we can remember the things we are blessed with,<br />and that we can remember it is only momentary <br />(even if it feels like those moments go on and on....)mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-42465366960392017182011-03-21T21:43:00.005-07:002011-04-03T16:11:56.691-07:00Thoughts on SPRINGwell it is official. Spring Break is over... that was the rude awakening that i was hit with this morning. I had gotten spoiled with the opportunity to sleep in last week. I took FULL advantage of each and every opportunity to ease into the day. I think while i was sleeping in, the sun decided to start popping up earlier... because when i woke up today (at my normal early time) there it was, as if saying to me "get up you lump of lard". Well, maybe the sun doesn't use that kind of language-- (that was more of me willing myself to get out of bed.) Instead the sun was reaching out as if telling me to enjoy the early morning sunrise because it will be coming earlier and earlier, and with that the HEAT! I am not ready for that-- I figured i was done with layering my clothes, wearing my sweatshirt and even socks, so you can imagine my surprise when i opened up the door to walk out and turned back around to grab my sweatshirt. What a pleasant surprise--staving off the heat for one more day. It was overcast and ended up raining for a large portion of the day--it was BEAUTIFUL--as if it was washing away the dirt of winter and freshening the earth in preparation of spring. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SqMSLcV-7VlQ8Yp1ZsjklWHugxNBI2nz3_O3spoiWc46dP-WBCLIukfPt7QL52aRTep_fL0NbBwsvPkJAABYS6Wbuy2mJ-Duw5E7-EluR41zhASxKzrC7M0_-MEMzx9iaJ9U37umFDEb/s1600/march+2011+048.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591496691965570562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SqMSLcV-7VlQ8Yp1ZsjklWHugxNBI2nz3_O3spoiWc46dP-WBCLIukfPt7QL52aRTep_fL0NbBwsvPkJAABYS6Wbuy2mJ-Duw5E7-EluR41zhASxKzrC7M0_-MEMzx9iaJ9U37umFDEb/s400/march+2011+048.jpg" /></a> (I almost felt guilty enjoying the rain since my cousin and her family were down here from Oregon to enjoy our sunshine and warmth) <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgoGLv8jC7Gz5xFbPI_mmz5HVnp0QJCbCFsUYYtx9_LVa9JVhjpG8_9xjSuKjKfINSlSScYkICn6M6gPFqWPoDM7RphrzreFjNDmTO-HAXBbYYJTlYbiM6E7kPQD-8GtnFIGXnJh5qJ5E/s1600/march+2011+045.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591496676147428130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgoGLv8jC7Gz5xFbPI_mmz5HVnp0QJCbCFsUYYtx9_LVa9JVhjpG8_9xjSuKjKfINSlSScYkICn6M6gPFqWPoDM7RphrzreFjNDmTO-HAXBbYYJTlYbiM6E7kPQD-8GtnFIGXnJh5qJ5E/s400/march+2011+045.jpg" /></a> I noticed my trees which had been dormant for the winter starting to spring new blossoms. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopxnneViWVFv9LZlorVIaW6cRj8lJ-GCqfw8b8QMZdqsqpy6PhFbLxZ6qwAZnBK6Ri0AlXTeSAM7Aa9h9ZLJR970Nx4VYDOLvqKuZrL8f-AMCtA1_6F9ZbPu8kJ91cXRExzK4MVgkTytf/s1600/march+2011+041.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591496683110026786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopxnneViWVFv9LZlorVIaW6cRj8lJ-GCqfw8b8QMZdqsqpy6PhFbLxZ6qwAZnBK6Ri0AlXTeSAM7Aa9h9ZLJR970Nx4VYDOLvqKuZrL8f-AMCtA1_6F9ZbPu8kJ91cXRExzK4MVgkTytf/s400/march+2011+041.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshNDTbvh1hySNUlxHBMOGh4m5MOfjt0o-pg49VP9P86QgqD5ZmgVG8Cfu70a-Mn7hggbhk6uw0YB-xMJIo8tfTUdNr3fXEJX4Kgc77_SjaJgaCPP0-o28fiL0-IoEPWcCl2lj6EcgQiI_/s1600/march+2011+044.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591496687201168354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshNDTbvh1hySNUlxHBMOGh4m5MOfjt0o-pg49VP9P86QgqD5ZmgVG8Cfu70a-Mn7hggbhk6uw0YB-xMJIo8tfTUdNr3fXEJX4Kgc77_SjaJgaCPP0-o28fiL0-IoEPWcCl2lj6EcgQiI_/s400/march+2011+044.jpg" /></a> It was a rough winter on my plants--many were killed off with a few nights of below freezing temps--imagine my surprise when i saw the white flowers popping up on my pile of sticks that i had left in the ground. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixREapcrwr6bGNEGTtyGyBFsPCabuHHbNFkW7dopOBlE_yIYafcxDqB0gOxdNIxyDgMVxop06XhKrifALpNxuISis3p_4KKMoMcVo6RMhP1n-xbzXTODdDc1gTCTC2kWFSSPhT31ebSSok/s1600/march+2011+050.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591496696596417330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixREapcrwr6bGNEGTtyGyBFsPCabuHHbNFkW7dopOBlE_yIYafcxDqB0gOxdNIxyDgMVxop06XhKrifALpNxuISis3p_4KKMoMcVo6RMhP1n-xbzXTODdDc1gTCTC2kWFSSPhT31ebSSok/s400/march+2011+050.jpg" /></a> Just when i was about to give up on that plant it found a way to muster up some life--I guess that is what spring is about--not giving up. Transition. Change. Becoming NEW. So with 9 weeks left of school we are in the final stretch--Changes will be coming--Transitions. Not sure i am ready for all of them. I guess when i start to feel overwhelmed I need to remember to look to the sunrise which makes getting up easier, and those plants and flowers that refused to give up. Somewhere along the way I can muster up the strength to bloom amidst adversity.</div></div>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-69725781134465423012011-03-18T01:31:00.003-07:002011-03-18T01:53:58.748-07:00Ramblings at two in the morningDon'tcha hate when you have been tired for most of the evening but not enough to sleep? It's not even that my mind is moving a mile a minute--cuz it's not. It is vacation and my body is freaking out at the knowledge that i can sleep in--and i have been. It has been so nice--even little man has slept in--i mean REALLY slept in. Why must school start back up next week? Actually I should not be complaining because we are in the home stretch from here on out--in fact graduation for number two child is but a short nine weeks away--AHHHHH. So hard to believe--<br />Note to self:<br />Need to schedule senior pictures <br />son needs haircut prior to them being taken<br />Need to buy cap and gown<br />Need to pinpoint son on how he wants his announcements to look so i can start creating the masterpieces<br /><br />I have determined tonight that i am NOT a good a home movie watcher--and when i say home movie it is not about HOME movies--those little gems of entertainment from when your children were little.--NO. I am actually talking about movies that were once in the theater that are now available to be watched in the comfort of your home. I find it just takes far more attention than i can give when i am at home. I loved the movie we were watching tonight when i saw it in the theater, but while watching it at home i couldn't have told you anything about it. I am just far too distracted. Too many other things that draw my attention away. I had no popcorn to keep me focused and in-line. Well maybe not, but i do love popcorn and soda when i am in the theater--it is after all in my opinion part of the whole movie watching experience. I thought about turning down the lights to give more of the theater effect in the room--but decided against in for fear i would fall asleep. I guess i just should have done it--at least now i would have a few hours of sleep under my belt.<br /><br />So now here i am. Hot and cold all at the same time. 98% of me is plenty warm--overly warm--but my feet....my feet are chilled and i think that is why i am awake. I should put on socks but then i know i will be even warmer...OIE veeeh. not to mention that my heels are crusty and snagging on the sheets--I need to get a good pedi....Did I mention the headache? Or the slightly stuffed nose? Not stuffed enough to warrant drugs, but enough to bug me. Allergy season here we come. Maybe i should break down and take something for the headache...or not. Instead i will sit here and watch House--he is sure to put me to sleep--and give me nightmares in the process...mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-8981191196108493102011-03-17T05:38:00.020-07:002011-03-19T13:43:59.528-07:00March Mantel or Madness?<div align="center">I am here to educate, enlighten and basically share facts about things that i previously had no clue about...<br /></div><div align="center">Did you know…<br /><br />Every year on March 17, people celebrate a holiday of which the history has been lost. Many people throughout the world celebrate this holiday decked out in green, trying not to get pinched, and looking for a leprechaun hoarding a pot of gold. In all actuality, this holiday serves a greater purpose of recognizing a man who faced a lifetime of troubles, trying to help people for the greater good.<br /><br />The original history of Saint Patrick’s Day goes back over a thousand years to Ireland. The holiday was originally celebrated as a religious feast to commemorate the death of Saint Patrick. Today, many don’t even know who Saint Patrick is. Patrick also was one of the first in the church to speak of women fondly as human beings,</div><div align="center"> and he thus became a saint of “the downtrodden and excluded.”<br /><br />To me the real interesting part about St. Patrick is that he wasn't really from Ireland--nope--<strong><em>he was English</em></strong>. So I guess that's why it's OK for all of us non-Irish people to celebrate this day. Know what else? They didn't really eat corned beef--they were pork people. Only when the Americans got a hold of this holiday did we change things up...<br /><br />I have never actually decorated for St. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Patricks</span> day,<br />I have always honored the food tradition though.<br />We always know what we are going to eat on March 17<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>,<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmYWDxfT3iRJzQf12uFYjwt7YkMiwXPz_9hWsxZLCInGzz8U1XZfZHeVsyQfh0BtZrSvM50y09ITbv5OHZ688UPEPfj98rMzCD4AU8Rz_9cQvfqfsVHG3kgnxoSZqa6Iq9s03REUCNAyf/s1600/march+17th+048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585457231565157842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmYWDxfT3iRJzQf12uFYjwt7YkMiwXPz_9hWsxZLCInGzz8U1XZfZHeVsyQfh0BtZrSvM50y09ITbv5OHZ688UPEPfj98rMzCD4AU8Rz_9cQvfqfsVHG3kgnxoSZqa6Iq9s03REUCNAyf/s400/march+17th+048.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a><br />but this year i was wanting a change.<br />Why not decorate a mantel for the occasion?<br />...only problem is<br /></p><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">you have to have mantel</span></strong>,<br />and since we are a fireplace free house<br />i had to settle on a small shelf instead.</div><div align="center"><br />I could have gone small and simple,<br />starting with one or two things </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">but <em>why</em>?<br /></span><em>WHY</em> go small and simple?<br />It just isn't my nature.<br />My mantra is<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"go big or go home"<br /></span>or in other words<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">"if one is good, ten are better."<br /><br /></span>Hard to believe, but somewhere among this mess<br />I found my creative, crafting <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">MOJO</span>.<br /></div><br /><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581270603771736498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfWUAyo9unIfgq3qwSVt5vfW_iDSDBuhkow9AylRlZj0WzvdZYhr2JR23DiMFn4ZHUypB2OoMenB1chEifyp-ev5c_ewWSTnpbWFexcvECnj72HJH8GGSk-Xfi6-T6tGi6561p5MGjity/s400/February+2011+142.jpg" />It would have been nice to have actually worked in my office instead of the kitchen table,<br />but that room is even worse off.<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">At least</span> when i work at the kitchen table,<br />i know that at one point or another<br />it will get cleaned up and put away<br /><br />Since i have no IRISH blood (that i know of)<br />i did not want my mantel to scream that--<br /><br />instead i wanted to focus on the LUCK part of the holiday.<br />To start off my creative juices i was feeling "LUCKY".<br /><div align="center">I knew i wanted to start with that word,<br />and have that be the center piece of my shelf.<br /><br /><div align="center">This is what I came up with.<br /><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583059623116495074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqvHlcfyD5MyqEIQBSQF8Cphj7bhWPGYD0N5s2SCvOdJaoUsQjnxwD_YlzyXWIO4nPXB76OJ_1qbu16kSoOTLjwZyN9NJD1PJIleap5irhuxyKtjBjysYciItkY4xjA2J8BZGpm1v-4sC/s400/February+2011+143.jpg" /> I think it turned out pretty cute<br />They were some plain old letters that i bought from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">JoAnns</span>...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkj3Yc0XQu9wpQuLV8RtCQ-FZj0-52X51LBQ37LUGhwmCa5jyHWHNdaClbyspEnzerTQ5_YqFYykpSnSf_-bWbzB06x95HU6Hy_NPSvyDRg4-aByN_xCVLXqZbmyGmV3FUhVkmToj6YABN/s1600/march+2011+019.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583751517861908338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkj3Yc0XQu9wpQuLV8RtCQ-FZj0-52X51LBQ37LUGhwmCa5jyHWHNdaClbyspEnzerTQ5_YqFYykpSnSf_-bWbzB06x95HU6Hy_NPSvyDRg4-aByN_xCVLXqZbmyGmV3FUhVkmToj6YABN/s400/march+2011+019.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(I sat on the floor trying out different combinations until I found the one i liked)<br /></span>I painted them all black and then mod <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">podged</span> on the paper<br />and trimmed and sanded them.<br />I intended it to be a four leaf clover on the "L",<br />and i think it turned out more like a green flower...<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cest</span>' la vie--</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(can you use a french phrase when talking about an Irish holiday?)</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxudZfJOI5vNrtZfkVYRFD1Uy48-s-kfj-nZDazAKGYwBD327uchEydIrpgfTZube9hMMlQ4esg2IeTWVVz-GRfxbCWWLa6FhhZ2FhZNnzdGvs69oUZJwrlqdXT2toYFYOeQdv1mqM4rj5/s1600/February+2011+144.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581284443454396098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxudZfJOI5vNrtZfkVYRFD1Uy48-s-kfj-nZDazAKGYwBD327uchEydIrpgfTZube9hMMlQ4esg2IeTWVVz-GRfxbCWWLa6FhhZ2FhZNnzdGvs69oUZJwrlqdXT2toYFYOeQdv1mqM4rj5/s400/February+2011+144.jpg" /></a><br />Originally i had chosen another wooden "U" but i fell in love with this one.<br />I thought it had a horse shoe like shape--<br />only problem with leaving it black <span style="font-size:85%;">(as to mimic a horse shoe) </span>was that it sort of got lost with everything else on the shelf until I put the frame behind it<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(I had planned on printing something to put in the frame,</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />but we ran out of ink...turned out i liked it blank better)<br /></span>The cardboard made it pop out--<br />I LOVED IT<br /><br />My next creative genius <span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(honk, honk....yes that is me, tooting my own horn)</span><br />came when i saw these plain paper <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">mache</span>' hearts around Valentines Day.<br />For a buck each I knew i couldn't go wrong.<br />A little green paint and various buttons from my vast stash<br />and i came up with this cute <span style="font-size:85%;">(if i say so myself) </span><span style="font-size:100%;">topiary.<br />I finished it off by putting it in a pot of gold</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv4MZ5DLmyA33Fd2jdug78GJPrbBGVk9cbLeklv9x1d_I-HjZoiJ12EgEIPktIFtTqVUu1QGyCPd7blGrNpJ64I7tlKU7cXxlCzCEAYLrdWSZ9ogM3XPR0WaUtqA8H8cUDI4RKhUS7A1O/s1600/February+2011+147.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581284465139211810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv4MZ5DLmyA33Fd2jdug78GJPrbBGVk9cbLeklv9x1d_I-HjZoiJ12EgEIPktIFtTqVUu1QGyCPd7blGrNpJ64I7tlKU7cXxlCzCEAYLrdWSZ9ogM3XPR0WaUtqA8H8cUDI4RKhUS7A1O/s400/February+2011+147.jpg" /></a> And what is a pot of gold<br />if there is not a leprechaun to protect it?<br />I thought he was pretty cute,<br />and it is only appropriate<br />that he sat on a block that said blessed. <span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(the block is another addition to my shelf that i can change monthly<br />--flip to the word that fits best)</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_w2wHGC3am0qPPZHxdwc3zdVNaZOD9VM4gxo09FQ4-XsjxtmgbhfFE4Q2D3eYyE9-vjAktKNI9lKhnACv0naf64EhKWskQRZIi1vO-5eizTI1N8dgL5VzldlAQaB_Z466jxQiQFCKSa9/s1600/February+2011+146.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581284458779379602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_w2wHGC3am0qPPZHxdwc3zdVNaZOD9VM4gxo09FQ4-XsjxtmgbhfFE4Q2D3eYyE9-vjAktKNI9lKhnACv0naf64EhKWskQRZIi1vO-5eizTI1N8dgL5VzldlAQaB_Z466jxQiQFCKSa9/s400/February+2011+146.jpg" /></a> Simple candles needed to be jazzed up so i wrapped them in paper, tied them off with white burlap and made some shamrocks out of my heart punch and some more buttons out of my stash--WA--<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">LAah</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01TpBccZroBuudh-26nIAq3kEHkiU4I3IhFflBNyhWoQj-NM0oNbBHDV6LsEoYtfaocMuXwqv8K_2cmD-CINg-TtbMZ8FNGMnV7FCJrmKBfdRiPibFwyLNzmeRYJcdtwN28Xv0r3xOX9w/s1600/February+2011+156.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581285840715805090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01TpBccZroBuudh-26nIAq3kEHkiU4I3IhFflBNyhWoQj-NM0oNbBHDV6LsEoYtfaocMuXwqv8K_2cmD-CINg-TtbMZ8FNGMnV7FCJrmKBfdRiPibFwyLNzmeRYJcdtwN28Xv0r3xOX9w/s400/February+2011+156.jpg" /></a> I then transformed a frame from a Thrift store in to this cute little sign.<br />Just some shamrock paper and cut letters from my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cricut</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(thank goodness my daughter can work that since i still have never really played with it)<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_98Pj_GgLnd-MbNdISBEPLzy_qmyeD78TlZzqmWRnzlAHhT-9LlzMa0HuttGKLedN8duSV1Bppknu0ZEaL9-wlmnpPHLIDGHg80doYeTC7biPVljU5TbUFkElT7-CEAHGyeeFu31SZ-y/s1600/February+2011+152.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581285829584202194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_98Pj_GgLnd-MbNdISBEPLzy_qmyeD78TlZzqmWRnzlAHhT-9LlzMa0HuttGKLedN8duSV1Bppknu0ZEaL9-wlmnpPHLIDGHg80doYeTC7biPVljU5TbUFkElT7-CEAHGyeeFu31SZ-y/s400/February+2011+152.jpg" /></a><br />I finished off the shelf by hanging the <a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2011/03/shamrocks.html"><br />four leaf clover that i had made earlier<br /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbYW28WXrtW3SLk6t2HZClQJxoJG2lpNP4UNQWZNQu8vCtY4TRSsRhsiRXMfN8hItUaOCq2WJNaFS-SEE7CTEyJuhRbOKuVnY_AIqBedMu-Mj2MTXVvztvIkTkrN_72EsfQJAx8jJkadf/s1600/February+2011+157.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581286171003921330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbYW28WXrtW3SLk6t2HZClQJxoJG2lpNP4UNQWZNQu8vCtY4TRSsRhsiRXMfN8hItUaOCq2WJNaFS-SEE7CTEyJuhRbOKuVnY_AIqBedMu-Mj2MTXVvztvIkTkrN_72EsfQJAx8jJkadf/s400/February+2011+157.jpg" /></a>add a little shamrock tree to the side</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">and TA-DA<br /><p align="center"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVG4dLlql-Hr9ZPyk4qZ7j7V_AG3eoV0zDQTg2pWK0EYtXnig4b-WBwdlWD3LnViQoxBNWobz9RaulmoFYNSs5P2z9An0y2ZpBmliTKdLd6gzlaxIYbOkYHdOSpFsjCMXGnJ3rCuCMwei/s1600/February+2011+155.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581285844569250226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVG4dLlql-Hr9ZPyk4qZ7j7V_AG3eoV0zDQTg2pWK0EYtXnig4b-WBwdlWD3LnViQoxBNWobz9RaulmoFYNSs5P2z9An0y2ZpBmliTKdLd6gzlaxIYbOkYHdOSpFsjCMXGnJ3rCuCMwei/s400/February+2011+155.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I love the way it all turned out.<br />Just like i had envisioned it.</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l45s8utJjjZ7PjcIOdOni-2iYcIQo-oVSBlwshDfFbbfuW94f7GhhIWlYiK718a-PrUk_NCUclaZw3fVsLwsI4gaLrT1MpgG8mbAUC-NY7eQolHEA6G8BQL7ZFZ0mmLD3_x4llbAi0D7/s1600/February+2011+149.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581285833593365810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l45s8utJjjZ7PjcIOdOni-2iYcIQo-oVSBlwshDfFbbfuW94f7GhhIWlYiK718a-PrUk_NCUclaZw3fVsLwsI4gaLrT1MpgG8mbAUC-NY7eQolHEA6G8BQL7ZFZ0mmLD3_x4llbAi0D7/s400/February+2011+149.jpg" /></a> </p><br /><p align="center">more than anything else this shelf really reminds me that<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">i am LUCKY<br /></span>more than a <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">pot of gold</span><br /></strong></span>i have been blessed with these wonderful gems in my life<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpFunu0yBJDWPN84ws7WYFsuQcdkCMSZEzKODt3mpbWss9B-etnbGWG-ffiLWK9JoOXYI1Su7j08Qx3ug80fmZ0Sy4z1X_Z85fgxjMsBHoOZq2v7rnFzcAYgslUswi2AFOs-tFAJ9LQ9r/s1600/november+2010+010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583077519690687426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpFunu0yBJDWPN84ws7WYFsuQcdkCMSZEzKODt3mpbWss9B-etnbGWG-ffiLWK9JoOXYI1Su7j08Qx3ug80fmZ0Sy4z1X_Z85fgxjMsBHoOZq2v7rnFzcAYgslUswi2AFOs-tFAJ9LQ9r/s400/november+2010+010.jpg" /> </a><br /><p align="center"><img class="gl_size" border="0" alt="Font size" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" /><br />having them reminds me daily<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">that i am</span> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">lucky</span><br /></strong><span style="font-size:130%;">that i am</span><strong> </strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>blessed</strong><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">and any <span style="color:#ffcc00;"><strong>gold</strong></span> that i might have....<br />will be spent by them<br /><br /></span></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></p><p align="center"></p></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://tipjunkie.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Tip Junkie handmade projects" src="http://www.tipjunkie.com/images/TipMeTuesdayButton1.png" /></a><right><a href="http://www.inspiringcreationsblog.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd99/linzaliz15/fridayfavorites.jpg" /></a></right> <div align="left"><a title="Tidy Mom" href="http://tidymom.net/tag/im-lovin-it/"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" alt="Tidy Mom" src="http://tidymom.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/TidyMomFRIDAYS-1.jpg" /></a></div><right><a href="http://www.whipperberry.com/"><img src="http://www.callmekristin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Button.png" /></a></left><br /><right><a href="http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5wLN-Zco-QyWlad2sLTNqMS6jIA41lynVthCiq2imogGcMjnS6P2SqIiQPPkgGLK7jZD2I4IrFs_dUnUwA1Gw6kgY0IqIDNTEpRFJnqNXK2z3Sivw9RIDqN5dk9q5FmlRZKLyL-9kpU/s1600/Tutorials+and+Tips_Page_01.jpg" /><br /></a></left><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/search/label/show%20and%20tell"><br /><img border="0" width="180" src="http://www.rememberthemoments.com/images/blog/satbutton.gif" height="180" /></a><center><a href="http://www.sasinteriors.net" target="_blank"><img alt="SAS Interiors" src="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc485/Brunette518/sat_spotlight_final.jpg"/></a></center>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-83045726292010357102011-03-16T20:54:00.009-07:002011-03-16T22:09:08.223-07:00whip something up<div align="center">I am growing up...<br />hard to believe that after 42 years<br />(i think that is how old I am?)<br />I am still willing to try new things<br />that i am not <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">soooo</span> set in my ways<br />and that i am willing to step outside of the box.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">When it comes to food </span></div><div align="center">i think i am pretty open to trying new things-<br />at least that is what i think until i watch some of these food shows and then i think, well, maybe I'm not.They eat some shall we say exotic (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ie</span>: Nasty) stuff on some of these shows. Then there are the overeating shows that just gross me out. Whatever the case, I might not be willing to eat the "exotic" stuff--not that i have many opportunities but I am willing to eat things that were previously on my "not quite my favorite list". Not that this list was very long.<br /><br />So what was on this list </div><div align="center">that previously i would not eat, that now i do?<br /><br />Cabbage--love it on tacos and a good coleslaw. This does not mean that i love all coleslaw--just some. I love cooked cabbage and love it sauteed in butter with onions. Honestly can you go wrong with anything cooked in butter? </div><div align="center">I think not.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brussel</span> Sprouts--or when i was little i would refer to them as mini cabbages. My oldest brother would request them for his birthday dinner every year--I think he didn't like them so much as he just wanted to torment us by having to eat them. Somewhere along the line my family has adopted their like for this little vegetable and often it can be found on our table for Sunday dinner. Still not my favorite food and i probably won't request it, but i don't mind it.<br /><br />With me growing up and eating <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">brussel</span> sprouts this has caused my husband to do the same...only with asparagus. Previously, just the mention of this pencil shaped vegetable would send him into a gag reflux.(i am serious when i speak about the gagging--even the thought or smell and he would be gagging--he swore he would NEVER eat it EVER!!!) I loved the vegetable so subsequently it made its way into our fridge and on the table until one day he actually ate it(after much persuasion and a few bribes) and he liked it--now he buys it, and prepares it.<br /><br />The last veggie wasn't so much a dislike as it was more of an indifferent feeling toward it. Cauliflower. I found <a href="http://sondrupclan.blogspot.com/2010/05/secret-ingredient.html">i liked it made this way </a>but honestly it was loaded with a ton of calories so it has failed to make its way back to our table. Tonight though, my husband made a lighter version that was equally tasty with what he topped it with. He panned fried it briefly with some fresh garlic and then steamed it. Instead of potatoes as the base he whipped the cauliflower with a little butter and milk in the blender. It was great--so much lighter and not starchy like potatoes.<br /><br />So this is what dinner was.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwmFHpMyWDwNX1he3q3MBSGWIc0EXI03QihjJ5Orl7W9pW0eh0LdB_j2aZXukw6egfwp3sqORKe4vDxIB0AHGUq0D8aXguRsAENJoulKvV5pBdQAXNGvK-FqDBots511N-HAUSmV_QiLh/s1600/march+2011.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584900408461755218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwmFHpMyWDwNX1he3q3MBSGWIc0EXI03QihjJ5Orl7W9pW0eh0LdB_j2aZXukw6egfwp3sqORKe4vDxIB0AHGUq0D8aXguRsAENJoulKvV5pBdQAXNGvK-FqDBots511N-HAUSmV_QiLh/s400/march+2011.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">Doesn't it look pretty.</span> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">It starts with a scoop of whipped cauliflower. It was a nice creamy contrast to the sweet chunky fresh tomato sauce--and then you've got the stalks of asparagus to add a crunchy bite with the tender pan fried chicken. </div><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">So <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">delish</span></span></p><p align="center">So glad my husband is willing to whip up dinner for me. </p><div align="center">I am glad that he has us try new and different things</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I am glad that he keeps me</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">fat and happy.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">well, maybe <strong>not the</strong></span><strong> fat part</strong>, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">but the <strong>HAPPY</strong>.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><p align="center">By the way--the item still on my list<br />LIVER--<br />doesn't matter how old i get,<br />or grown up and open minded i feel....<br />I am just not going there any time soon </p>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-57203813435349343092011-03-11T10:49:00.000-07:002011-03-14T11:41:16.300-07:00Tragedy makes us reflectWhy is it that it takes something TERRIBLE to make me step back and realize how truly blessed I am? Has it really been 7 years since i woke just after Christmas to see the devastation that took place in Indonesia? Bad things are not supposed to happen around Christmas. While we were celebrating and spending time with family for the holidays, others across the world were looking for their loved ones amongst the ruble and debris of an earthquake and subsequent Tsunami. I remember being paralyzed for days after, sitting in awe as i watched the images play out on TV. How could something so horrible have happened? Then slowly we resumed our "normal" lives and went about our business as usual. My life went on and only on occasion did i give this tragedy a second thought. It was only today when i started thinking about it again that i can hardly believe that it was that long ago.<br /><br />Once again while i was sleeping safe and sound in my home, across the world those in Japan were living out their worst nightmares. It is not something that they will just be able to wake up from either. It will be on going for months/years. It was something that no one had any control over...I think that is when you feel so small in this world, to realize we have very little control of what happens in our lives. I have been thinking about those families that sent missionaries over to Japan. What faith to send your child half way around the world. All you can do is pray that they will be safe...and they have been. What a blessing. I only hope that while they are there that they will be able to console the weak and broken.That they can give the aid to those who need it since we can't. It will be many many years of healing for the Japanese. Long after it is no longer in the news, long after it has been placed in the history books as the horrific event that it is, they will still be dealing with it. I need to remember to be thankful for my blessings, for my safety. And i need to remember after it is no longer the headline news story that those in Japan,they will still need my prayers.mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-50223827650652791792011-03-07T21:31:00.001-07:002011-03-17T23:36:17.088-07:00Shamrocks<div align="center">Nothing screams St.<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Patricks</span> Day more than the Shamrock.<br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmg8W7UChYL2ZGAGsMvR38xRVtvVN-H-OwMvFlK2MSNa0jvD3sbyQGGEkSrOTZPYkyQ_DJN_w_02d6Gs4XhnFYU97tK_xkppa0j_uAIIGWB34lqTQc7szNe2XtWsLjg2K6niuWK0IhGlBG/s1600/march+2011+037.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583751513790666578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmg8W7UChYL2ZGAGsMvR38xRVtvVN-H-OwMvFlK2MSNa0jvD3sbyQGGEkSrOTZPYkyQ_DJN_w_02d6Gs4XhnFYU97tK_xkppa0j_uAIIGWB34lqTQc7szNe2XtWsLjg2K6niuWK0IhGlBG/s400/march+2011+037.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">(hello cute beaded shamrock in the $1 frame from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Michaels</span>)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLEa55Vd0awoBacYykkMpGvpEcnCntBAqmd-ifQBQU6H7bxuJQ1v6YTd4p9ZfJC9uyBnh8Z1A1sP7xIAD2hnN5WmH5Ej57ADLmdHBd9OfAMh4u6fL5lKJmNRZV0d49MVnRzVzMtkY1mRd/s1600/march+2011+036.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583781066208352482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLEa55Vd0awoBacYykkMpGvpEcnCntBAqmd-ifQBQU6H7bxuJQ1v6YTd4p9ZfJC9uyBnh8Z1A1sP7xIAD2hnN5WmH5Ej57ADLmdHBd9OfAMh4u6fL5lKJmNRZV0d49MVnRzVzMtkY1mRd/s400/march+2011+036.jpg" /></a>this one was made from everything i had on hand--<br />i think it needs a stem though<br />gotta love leftovers for craft projects and a $1 frame from DI<br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">I remember as a kid sitting in my yard and picking through a pile shamrocks looking for the elusive four leaf clover...and ya know what? I actually have not only found one, but two, four leaf clovers in my life time. Now does that mean I am twice as LUCKY? Probably not--I think it just means i am more persistent when i am on a quest to find something. If i can't find what i want, i find something else to make it work. That was what i had to do when making my wreath. I knew i wanted a four leaf clover--i thought it represented LUCK better--so off i went in search of some hearts that i could put together to make my wreath. Guess what? Styrofoam hearts were next to impossible to find before or after Valentines day, so i had to get creative.<br />I started out with a Styrofoam circle<br /></span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1xYhTjwVLiwlcSNgzXzOXiFu9vjCuAMgJBe0QcHYMEyHPCV7i_2uszY2ztPmIr_CwY_C2P3fp9_UWTbMNc58eOBiDKwR2_kP94NPIEJj2lZJ_qDpOIhqtQ0UdGCutTDM2m2wvXS7jup3/s1600/February+2011+083.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583074531946873762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1xYhTjwVLiwlcSNgzXzOXiFu9vjCuAMgJBe0QcHYMEyHPCV7i_2uszY2ztPmIr_CwY_C2P3fp9_UWTbMNc58eOBiDKwR2_kP94NPIEJj2lZJ_qDpOIhqtQ0UdGCutTDM2m2wvXS7jup3/s400/February+2011+083.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"> and traced on some hearts till i got a shape that i liked.<br />I then took a handy dandy serrated knife to cut it out<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">(please don't tell the hubby that i used his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Henkle</span> to do this)<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD_x7CO-y3Dc5BhEvbJ2VSJvzaIAqAgagwYQMK9I5xhfrSm0KoUv3FJ6dQ0DMNmVIpkSvkuWHCxavaPTocEETjlSkrmUn0od_oPejBJVggE2ex9h4Pus4ae4ljcUx36DR-z3wOR1Bsffu/s1600/February+2011+084.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583074533200532482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD_x7CO-y3Dc5BhEvbJ2VSJvzaIAqAgagwYQMK9I5xhfrSm0KoUv3FJ6dQ0DMNmVIpkSvkuWHCxavaPTocEETjlSkrmUn0od_oPejBJVggE2ex9h4Pus4ae4ljcUx36DR-z3wOR1Bsffu/s400/February+2011+084.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Then I used the part of the Styrofoam that i had cut off<br />to sand the edges and smooth them.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(It worked really well, but man did it make a mess)</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K5eSUAmDm19BZh0vojRK3AjJHIv0OSEWrneXbxKE_xUROC7jO2rfQlwINvfkZTokyiYjt2IUOK9K5f4Oti2g83s6kk2zvlLYYlk38yli4A3e_vqCVruwVAP0mTciLrCDIIAHb1cKcj1G/s1600/February+2011+086.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583074537387032306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K5eSUAmDm19BZh0vojRK3AjJHIv0OSEWrneXbxKE_xUROC7jO2rfQlwINvfkZTokyiYjt2IUOK9K5f4Oti2g83s6kk2zvlLYYlk38yli4A3e_vqCVruwVAP0mTciLrCDIIAHb1cKcj1G/s400/February+2011+086.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"> Styrofoam dust is almost as bad as glitter--it sticks to everything and goes everywhere. If i ever do it again i think it will become an outside project. Then my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">OCD</span> kicked in and i decided I needed to paint it (knowing that I probably wouldn't even see it when it was covered) but doesn't it look great?<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Very Shamrock-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">ie</span> I say...<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ayT59Ikxe_XydbjykjLYzy-wmYeWOWzdT_qK2J8zMUZo3pK_jhhVm0uaI97M0FhFC-wV0V_BJSAdbKQsPv8UShtzaGTgtVmF0cOf5NLYYnOXSU5lilnGLs_2_WnAMOk4IpzRn-ItPyjV/s1600/February+2011+087.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583074541830511234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ayT59Ikxe_XydbjykjLYzy-wmYeWOWzdT_qK2J8zMUZo3pK_jhhVm0uaI97M0FhFC-wV0V_BJSAdbKQsPv8UShtzaGTgtVmF0cOf5NLYYnOXSU5lilnGLs_2_WnAMOk4IpzRn-ItPyjV/s400/February+2011+087.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"> Then much like i had done on my valentine wreath I cut out green felt to cover my Styrofoam with. I used a flower die that had a heart/shamrock like look when folded<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Originally i <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">tri</span>-folded the felt<br />but it made it too bulky so i went with a quarter fold instead)</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn1aB1DM0naQuapN7y7WzogNXHRxXp35DvL9BhebyfuLr-K7ThKSnncUK5wiL2nSsqbjcLlGcD1iJKEJ9UZ11XvuI32UMkjL-v5WQtSrJmFcxL9SvfW2yAkckQxOFA7hqUzbUv_dnuxxw/s1600/February+2011+096.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583075463680391170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn1aB1DM0naQuapN7y7WzogNXHRxXp35DvL9BhebyfuLr-K7ThKSnncUK5wiL2nSsqbjcLlGcD1iJKEJ9UZ11XvuI32UMkjL-v5WQtSrJmFcxL9SvfW2yAkckQxOFA7hqUzbUv_dnuxxw/s400/February+2011+096.jpg" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I then started filling it in.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">(This picture was when i was still <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">tri</span>-folding it--like i said it turned out too bulky this way)</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-4KXTP2ywFTOVKAWO7y_kVincTm6SICqzfBrCgNj7cuM_r1PZFl0FoMJSUR_nH4fSOuai_Jv-cLJjSIDteeCv4SgfWiLob9B9JB1ea9Q9Z3DZGqPyoQXVemNW_FCztxz7zRqawFDeYy7/s1600/February+2011+094.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583075453450580994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-4KXTP2ywFTOVKAWO7y_kVincTm6SICqzfBrCgNj7cuM_r1PZFl0FoMJSUR_nH4fSOuai_Jv-cLJjSIDteeCv4SgfWiLob9B9JB1ea9Q9Z3DZGqPyoQXVemNW_FCztxz7zRqawFDeYy7/s400/February+2011+094.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">not rocket science here. Just stick it with a pin and fill it in. </span></p><p align="center">(notice the bus seat? yes, i was crafting on the job)<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNvUT7eDTh-t2gpxcl3OAW8hZtMgM44MDSX9zsoiFAWqAFTEYjE3I3AjQCSNCiCvITwqwq3aunTafWr16KrtlpuY-Cj953fEKCdgVLe6NO3rQhe3LeCj1rDi17Id2eLBjOzbNfyrA6Ab3/s1600/February+2011+089.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583074550193066706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNvUT7eDTh-t2gpxcl3OAW8hZtMgM44MDSX9zsoiFAWqAFTEYjE3I3AjQCSNCiCvITwqwq3aunTafWr16KrtlpuY-Cj953fEKCdgVLe6NO3rQhe3LeCj1rDi17Id2eLBjOzbNfyrA6Ab3/s400/February+2011+089.jpg" /></a> I actually ended up taking it apart and re-doing it because it too full the first time. That and the fact that it was sitting out and my husband was a bit aggressive with petting/fluffing my shamrock that he actually broke off one of the arms--thank goodness for glue.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vUd6M_z6Q8b7YbVksYyaNYKcEGU77FKXRzuvMFdF_PC2nXbundltoDOzrZKQnka2pG82-tevUFSku3Dkn-dZcO08P8QLW58XEF8XE5BCsfrx1j4CVU_ZnYWh_qGEZB6UvQm5piQyN87o/s1600/February+2011+157.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583077513013281490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vUd6M_z6Q8b7YbVksYyaNYKcEGU77FKXRzuvMFdF_PC2nXbundltoDOzrZKQnka2pG82-tevUFSku3Dkn-dZcO08P8QLW58XEF8XE5BCsfrx1j4CVU_ZnYWh_qGEZB6UvQm5piQyN87o/s400/February+2011+157.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:100%;">I think it turned out pretty cute. I probably should have done a three leaf clover because aesthetically i think it would have looked better--but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">NOOOO</span>--had to be a four leaf clover because it represented LUCK and i thought about how common a three leaf clovers are, almost weed like in some places, and then i read this little fact about good <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">ol</span>' St. Patty<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Legend has it that the shamrock was used to represent the Holy Trinity by St. Patrick. By doing this he could show people how the church was connected. St. Patrick used this to symbolize how the<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Father, Son,</span> and <span style="font-size:180%;">Holy Spirit</span><br />can be separate, but also part of the same entity.</span><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Knowing this now,<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I LOVE three leaf clovers.<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">It helps me stop and remember where my LUCK comes from<br />and to be thankful for my blessings<br /></span><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK53s7E9EOFP-euo8XreeCwyAD0-y2z-Rt264mPWuoGue8Spp9cnHTGNmQ_xuyK9XJSPnxU3dv5og2jfcsuapfmVRX8inmtBl-crJvNrUtReXA-GiTtr4PR004ZPO0SEaBgH-0WwYfZO6/s1600/February+2011+147.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583077492063326210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK53s7E9EOFP-euo8XreeCwyAD0-y2z-Rt264mPWuoGue8Spp9cnHTGNmQ_xuyK9XJSPnxU3dv5og2jfcsuapfmVRX8inmtBl-crJvNrUtReXA-GiTtr4PR004ZPO0SEaBgH-0WwYfZO6/s400/February+2011+147.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">and of course the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">aesthetics</span> and all....<br /></span></p><br /></span><br /><a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/search/label/Link%20Parties" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="UndertheTableandDreaming" src="http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv298/theliebertfamily/party.png" /></a>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-3816070452471491162011-03-06T20:57:00.000-07:002011-03-14T11:45:13.042-07:0050 ODD things about ME?!Found this buried in my drafts from a few years ago--<br />figured i might as well post it--feel free to cut and past and fill it out on your blog--i think some of the questions were fun<br /><br />1. Do you like blue cheese?<br />Blue, white, yellow--i don't discriminate--I am an equal opportunity cheese consumer<br /><br />2. Have you ever smoked heroin?<br />The only smoking i have ever had come out of my body, is from my ears, when i am mad.<br /><br />3. Do you own a gun?<br />Does Nerf count? I kinda have some issues with guns in the home....<br /><br />4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?<br />Extra lime<br /><br />5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?<br />Only OB/GYN--the whole bodily function thing makes me nervous....<br /><br />6. What do you think of hot dogs?<br />Costco hot dogs and Ted's, but they need Deli mustard,onions and sauerkraut anything else is just wrong<br /><br />7. Favorite Christmas song?<br />Mary's Lullaby, Away in a manger, What child is this...<br /><br />8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?<br />Nothing....Water I guess or a COKE if i have a headache...I know mom, it is terrible for me but it does help<br /><br />9. Can you do push ups?<br />I am more proficient at the push downs--haven't tried the push ups in years--but i did win the Presidential Fitness award in Elementary school<br /><br />10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?<br />I don't wear much but I love my banglie bracelets<br /><br />11. Favorite hobby?<br />That i actually do....HMMM I guess scrap booking, although i do love to finish a fun upholstery project<br /><br />12. Do you have A.D.D.?<br />Is that like O.C.D.? I prefer the title of multi tasker<br /><br />13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself?<br />I will let you know tomorrow--PROCRASTINATION!<br /><br />14.If you had to give up one of your senses, what would it be?<br />I would give up being able to smell. Although taste is directly related to smell and i really like food--so maybe hear--I guess i am so thankful for all of my senses and glad this is just a rhetorical question<br /><br />15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.<br />I am sitting in the jury room at superior court--<br />1.I hate waiting<br />2.Why do they think burping on a movie is funny<br />3. Kinda cold and hungry<br />I guess that is really four but i think cold and hungry go together<br /><br />16.Name 4 drinks you regularly drink?<br />Water, Pepsi(otherwise known as the nectar of the gods) Diet Coke with Lime--Diet cherry limeade from Sonic<br /><br />17. Current worry right now?<br />How my youngest is going to like and adjust to his new teacher<br /><br />18. Current hate right now?<br />dirty house/laundry/mopping floors but i hate these things all the time<br /><br />19.Favorite season?<br />--I love fall--I love the smell of the leaves and the wonderful colors that they trees turn. I miss it alot since we don't actually have fall in AZ<br /><br />20. How did you bring in the New Years?<br />With friends and their kids--pigging out,playing games and doing a puzzles and the guys play games<br /><br />21. Like to go?<br />Is this an opened ended question--like make up your own ending or is like take the time to "GO"--often i find i am to busy to stop and take the time to "GO"--I wish i could have others "go" for me<br /><br />22.Nail polish?<br />Only on my toes--love the dark blue/reds in the winter, pinks in the spring and an orange red in the fall<br /><br />23. Do you own your own slippers?<br />Yes.I used to love those with the funny animals and such--now i just like warm and comfy ones that i can drive in if needed.<br /><br />24. What color shirt are you wearing?<br />A green one to match my eyes--after all the years of my mom trying to convince me to wear green it finally worked<br /><br />25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?<br />NO--I am a cotton girl all the way--I just gave away my satin sheets and they were practically brand new--don't like the slip sliding feeling or the snaggy feeling when your heels are rough<br /><br />26. Can you whistle?<br />Yes,only in...but not very effectively.<br /><br />27. Favorite color?<br />I love it all in various shades--<span style="font-size:130%;">color makes me happy<br /></span><br />28. Would you be a pirate?<br />ARGHHHH yes matey---but i think my integrity would be and issue to the whole robbing and pillaging thing---<br /><br />29. What songs do you sing in the shower? <br />Not a big shower singer--but get me in the car and watch out!<br /><br />30. If you could pick your name what would it have been?<br />hmmmm--this is a deep question--I think my name fits me--leigh ann, but not just leigh<br /><br />31.Bed sheets as a kid<br />--I had holly hobby and then some pretty yellow with tiny little multicolored buds--still like those sheets (yes i still have one)<br /><br />32. What's in your pocket right now? <br />a coupon to Lowes--coins and beads. What can I say? I live a random life<br /><br />33. Last thing that made you laugh? <br />watching my husband play the WII<br /><br />34. Worst injury you've ever had? <br />When i rubbed off all the skin on my shins knee boarding right before graduation<br /><br />35. Do you love where you live? <br />Although it is hot in the summer you don't have to shovel sunshine and if you want the snow you only have to drive a few hours to find it. I do miss the trees from back east but have learned to appreciate the beauty that is found in the desert<br /><br />36. How many TV's do you have in your house? <br />I think six or so<br /><br />37. Who is your loudest friend?<br />HMMMMM--I think Sheli but actually she is my sis-in-law. I think i am probably louder than her at times though<br /><br />38. How many pets do you have? <br />one really spoiled dog<br /><br />39. Does someone have a crush on you? <br />It is my anniversary--so i hope my husband<br /><br />40. What is your favorite book? <br />I go between the mindless dribble and murder mystery. I also love a good coffee table book and love History books<br /><br />41. What is your favorite candy? <br />Heath Bar or Peanut M&M's--makes me feel like i am making a healthy choice since nuts are good for you<br /><br />42. Favorite Sports Team? <br />the ones my children are on--although i do have teams i prefer to drive and watch over others--just a perk of my job<br /><br />43. What were you doing 12 AM last night? <br />Sleeping--what can i say? I am getting old<br /><br />44. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? <br />"Crap! I have to get up and go to work...again"<br /><br />45. Worst habit? <br />Cursing and procrastination, but i try not to make that a habit<br /><br />46. Do you play an instrument?<br />Does the radio count? I can play the first two lines of "My country tis of thee" on the piano--maybe one day i will figure it out<br /><br />47. How long does it take you to get to work? <br />About 7 minutes or less--depends if i cut through the parking lot when i don't get a left turn arrow in the morning<br /><br />48. Plans for the weekend?<br />work (story of my life) Party with the friends for New Years--always tons to eat and lots of laughs and a good time--bummer it only happens once a year<br /><br />49. If you could eat anything in the world right this second what would it be?<br />Panna Cotta! Seriously love that stuff. Just hook up an IV with that in it and i will die a happy person<br /><br />50. Do you like the person who sent this to you? <br />Since there are very few people that i dislike the odds are YES--only wish i could remember who actually sent it to memom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-41329107975810733242011-02-22T22:27:00.006-07:002011-02-22T23:03:19.864-07:00When good art goes WRONG<div align="center">I have been wanting to post these picture for awhile.<br />I have been hanging onto them for the perfect day.<br />I figured the time had come. </div><div align="center">After all it is February<br />--the month of LUV.<br />LUV<span style="font-size:130%;">...LUV</span><span style="font-size:180%;">...LUV</span><br />What screams <span style="font-size:180%;">love</span> more than a cute cherub.<br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgds_GBOjTdii_dzo0-zg1M5GbH45-OBCpmAn7UDXznnfjdAwycYe_bO1EHLqjF3GEZ5se-5GYwJZqU_WxjzVNA_DffE3sZrtVeso59yC5NsbZ5rnw7Wn9qawF8KmYWA9IxChCIPepPmg6B/s1600/dragons+and+zebra+prom+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576034008150955474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgds_GBOjTdii_dzo0-zg1M5GbH45-OBCpmAn7UDXznnfjdAwycYe_bO1EHLqjF3GEZ5se-5GYwJZqU_WxjzVNA_DffE3sZrtVeso59yC5NsbZ5rnw7Wn9qawF8KmYWA9IxChCIPepPmg6B/s400/dragons+and+zebra+prom+002.JPG" /></a></p><p>I love how they strategically placed <em>his </em>drape as to be a modest cherub. After all you don't want a porno cherub hanging in the house. Then this also bears the question: "Are they male? Female? Or are cherubs a sexual?" Inquiring minds want to know---or, at least i do now that i am writing this.</p><p align="center">Now, I don't really think that this is a<em> really</em> cute cherub. I recently saw this on a lovely (tongue in cheek) piece of art work. I had to get real close to the picture to actually see what it was. I was intrigued. Oh the lovely artwork it was...The cherub was dimensional, as to stand out.<br /><br />Then you had these lovely <em>working</em>,<br />yes, I said <span style="font-size:130%;">WORKING</span> lights in the picture </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh5weog8i3ArAcaDT0uIjoFIZaJX-YicxshqcYAr0dVHAl2pJQXnq71LIe1yZGgz1JJlRLvhk3v17nit_gJgWNVqRwYmVal_Y0FnJcxBOzsAVd1tX6CMqxsvudzqdC0vgY1w3lkYOoQqX/s1600/dragons+and+zebra+prom+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576034012330252898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh5weog8i3ArAcaDT0uIjoFIZaJX-YicxshqcYAr0dVHAl2pJQXnq71LIe1yZGgz1JJlRLvhk3v17nit_gJgWNVqRwYmVal_Y0FnJcxBOzsAVd1tX6CMqxsvudzqdC0vgY1w3lkYOoQqX/s400/dragons+and+zebra+prom+003.JPG" /></a><br />I mean it is not everyday that your wall art also double as a night light.<br />Or maybe,<br />it was <em><span style="font-size:130%;">MOOD</span></em> lighting.<br />After all, a cherub with mood lighting?<br />Who wouldn't be in the mood with this <em>lovely</em> piece of ART<br />(Have you noticed that i continue to say <em>lovely</em>?<br />I think i need to pull out the thesaurus,<br />and yes, i am using that word <span style="font-size:130%;"><em>lovely</em> </span>loosely)<br />hanging above their couch.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5VGKRXrWETUyuuiop-M9Xh9g9H0lDTRHa-W2NUNvqk5BDrtM3AhzXJL6m06dY-SEqUn0Io_KMuor2fgEm3FBvKzyASd07ix5yi1M2KUL8YjCv6emc6dvVIHTVpUjoIdsteZdBiRK-BYO/s1600/dragons+and+zebra+prom+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576034020339155138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5VGKRXrWETUyuuiop-M9Xh9g9H0lDTRHa-W2NUNvqk5BDrtM3AhzXJL6m06dY-SEqUn0Io_KMuor2fgEm3FBvKzyASd07ix5yi1M2KUL8YjCv6emc6dvVIHTVpUjoIdsteZdBiRK-BYO/s400/dragons+and+zebra+prom+004.JPG" /></a> Well there it is folks. That little blob in the middle--on the top of the fountain is the dimensional cherub. Why? Oh WhY, did i not find the money in my purse to pick up this lovely (there is the word again) maybe i should say <em>interesting </em>art piece....well, we will just leave it at that. </p><p align="center">Scary part is...someone did buy it.<br />Personally, I am hoping this was a <span style="font-size:130%;">one of a kind</span>.</p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>NEVER</strong> to be duplicated again</span><br />just too much blue for me.....</p>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3939139205297012190.post-60536887719648612842011-02-17T19:12:00.002-07:002011-02-17T20:54:00.390-07:00My charmer<div align="center">My fourth child has always been a charmer.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoOGBpaWi72oyIqE2EJDvAZVydfd-C6vLmU8TdEiuV9jQRwHwyQVpi0UbuSCiC301yELlW4FS1oWtmcn2IoDKsH8g4klCIJCFyLRNbx2hdmIvCNBwYh-qzfa18eSPjTf38W7s8pMkk5h9/s1600/zip+line+266.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574860998428506610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoOGBpaWi72oyIqE2EJDvAZVydfd-C6vLmU8TdEiuV9jQRwHwyQVpi0UbuSCiC301yELlW4FS1oWtmcn2IoDKsH8g4klCIJCFyLRNbx2hdmIvCNBwYh-qzfa18eSPjTf38W7s8pMkk5h9/s400/zip+line+266.jpg" /></a><br />Maybe it is the dimples on his cheek and his BEE-UTE-IFUL blue/green eyes<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kNCn8b6eM905Qmfm6z-5Hq9ih-56kFnWt6NCVhKZIGRiV35Nsaa5MpSTbgnVYQK69hl7PlBT5kIyg8VmEXS9ig_HkDxXNIc7xvbwSgsmM4CdV_7KMCMMN0Jx3AdyU5elKm56eFC_6VYg/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574861006436362098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kNCn8b6eM905Qmfm6z-5Hq9ih-56kFnWt6NCVhKZIGRiV35Nsaa5MpSTbgnVYQK69hl7PlBT5kIyg8VmEXS9ig_HkDxXNIc7xvbwSgsmM4CdV_7KMCMMN0Jx3AdyU5elKm56eFC_6VYg/s400/IMG_2897.JPG" /></a> This has always been one of my most favorite pictures of this punk.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnypwzOvVPaLpr6VAid8YRqwjcysoWs92nAYzw6fRyjq_Px71CR2QeX3qeI643eDr0XbdDSOlc8c5wGLvSNqDjRif3PwMX4DHumiGwRaTER3zVGA2PThyes3O2eKlJkdnLp3y8H0ZmjOQ/s1600/RYAN+019.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574871977395390978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnypwzOvVPaLpr6VAid8YRqwjcysoWs92nAYzw6fRyjq_Px71CR2QeX3qeI643eDr0XbdDSOlc8c5wGLvSNqDjRif3PwMX4DHumiGwRaTER3zVGA2PThyes3O2eKlJkdnLp3y8H0ZmjOQ/s400/RYAN+019.jpg" /></a> Perhaps it is his fun personality, </div><div align="center">or his guns he likes to show off </div><div align="center">(how many boys do you know that can pull off pink sequence?)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl-TdyQmsyGd7tmnPQOG01yCrZJqUiNXLUooJw2wMeRghCDxxxLQfvvZqV4AgQHlYCRYvOSEriQCKQvoOVCV_hPRKEsf9PsIjHMHDSXHvIfueshQKHgR0JEP6zx0B3HM6413jDxQ3t5y-/s1600/ryan+goofing+off+007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574871392242859570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl-TdyQmsyGd7tmnPQOG01yCrZJqUiNXLUooJw2wMeRghCDxxxLQfvvZqV4AgQHlYCRYvOSEriQCKQvoOVCV_hPRKEsf9PsIjHMHDSXHvIfueshQKHgR0JEP6zx0B3HM6413jDxQ3t5y-/s400/ryan+goofing+off+007.jpg" /></a> Or his ability to rock the "gangsta' look"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rpIYJ8OKGoZmQZRGS-4C6mxMBt0nXjTbmVTaNNvkpNbSKXuw3owskbna4PMdolPqC80CCKAKJGXJa3_irR26qCnrvzSoDtymuexqyBt9PnliTIFuAF2QXL538TQztG5OhdxEKqsOWMMp/s1600/late+october+10+080.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574858930237914482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rpIYJ8OKGoZmQZRGS-4C6mxMBt0nXjTbmVTaNNvkpNbSKXuw3owskbna4PMdolPqC80CCKAKJGXJa3_irR26qCnrvzSoDtymuexqyBt9PnliTIFuAF2QXL538TQztG5OhdxEKqsOWMMp/s400/late+october+10+080.jpg" /></a><br />He loves little kids--including his own brother<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCCd17BrewpIuDbd5Nij_-rWrFrvbyUNA2G1ZMvzFGK0Sabe4q-jmaE2WX91BjHjNlUc-HenCqhlWe8L1uz45HP8fy4eAgboemlyL8hNlPFkxCE5g8CfRYdsYqEEaG23uvUOsdBsUZlqy/s1600/zip+line+298.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574860992791300450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCCd17BrewpIuDbd5Nij_-rWrFrvbyUNA2G1ZMvzFGK0Sabe4q-jmaE2WX91BjHjNlUc-HenCqhlWe8L1uz45HP8fy4eAgboemlyL8hNlPFkxCE5g8CfRYdsYqEEaG23uvUOsdBsUZlqy/s400/zip+line+298.jpg" /></a><br />Today found me with a horrible headache after a long day at work. I came in and crashed on the couch. My son had just started a movie on Netflix--TRON--not exactly what i had in mind to decompress to. I looked around the room and it looked like a bomb had gone off. Seeing my son just vegging there I started a conversation with him, and this is how it went<br /><br />Me: have you done anything around the house today?<br />(knowing full well that NOTHING had been done) <p></p><div align="center">Son: "mommy, have i told you how much i love you"<br />(batting his long eyelashes and flashing me a grin)</div><div align="center"><br />me:( Ignoring his attempt to sway me)<br />"Like i asked before. Have you done anything today?"<br /><br />Son: "But you are the best mommy, </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I <span style="font-size:180%;">L--OOOO--VVV--EEE</span> YOUUUUU</span>."<br />(said in the most condescending,</div><div align="center">sickening sweet voice </div><div align="center">a 14 year old boy could muster up)</div><div align="center"><br />Me: "It would be nice if you would do something to show me that you love me"<br />(me, thinking the "showing" would involve a chore of some kind)<br /><br />Son: (Reaches over and gives me a KISS???)<br />"That is showing you, or would you prefer a hug instead?" </div><div align="center">(this coming from my child who runs the other direction when i try to elicit a hug)<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">I caved</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">--melted as it were.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">--gave in, or better yet gave up.</span></div><div align="center">If he is gonna to go to that extreme to get out of doing a job who am i to argue? </div><div align="center">And quite honestly i just didn't have it in me anyway.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKxqswgJeNBYWR1qUV5PitSWJ9NwfrWRt2Y2DhZKhthOi1cZcVkLiZQg1WLLz6WHVu-bQwXzupDZ8ABOUXfs0UH5cKxzKepbsvKwVLg2Fbn9ES6BZGSapWdynLanlmkZ54aW-5kMlHx1w/s1600/december+2010+456.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574857740944474450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKxqswgJeNBYWR1qUV5PitSWJ9NwfrWRt2Y2DhZKhthOi1cZcVkLiZQg1WLLz6WHVu-bQwXzupDZ8ABOUXfs0UH5cKxzKepbsvKwVLg2Fbn9ES6BZGSapWdynLanlmkZ54aW-5kMlHx1w/s400/december+2010+456.jpg" /></a> Who knew that under those beautiful eyes,<br />dimples, and the hat held a devious mastermind.</p></div>mom of fab fivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664862914841959474noreply@blogger.com1